Log 5-28 February 2008

[David Nicholson]

As a Lewisia 'nut' I thoroughly enjoyed the current Log Paul. I agree with, you Lewisia cotyledon hybrids are much maligned plants but they are beautiful and as you say terrific value for money. Some of mine started flowering in late March 2007 and I had to cut flowering stems off them when I re-potted them earlier this month.

[Ian Y]

Paul, I can see nothing wrong with your slide scans, I would be happy if I could get that quality.
Another great log thank you.

[Katherine J]

I would like so much to have some!
In Hungary there aren't even hints of Lewisias. Nurserymen say that they are not hardy in our climate.
I suppose deciduous species growing from October to June don't tolerate long lasting frosts do they? And what about the evergreens?
Otherwise our hot and dry summers could be good for them. I think they could be grown well if protected from hard frost. Do you agree?

[David Nicholson]

I would like so much to have some!
In Hungary there aren't even hints of Lewisias. Nurserymen say that they are not hardy in our climate.
I suppose deciduous species growing from October to June don't tolerate long lasting frosts do they? And what about the evergreens?
Otherwise our hot and dry summers could be good for them. I think they could be grown well if protected from hard frost. Do you agree?

I may have a few seeds left Kata if you would like some. I can't get to the fridge to check at the moment as buns are being baked in the kitchen as I write. I will check later and let you know. I doubt if frosts would be too much of a problem if you kept them somewhere with a bit of shade from the worst of the weather.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Hi Kata,
Don't believe your nurserymen  !
The beauty of Lewisias is what braught me to alpine gardening a long time ago, and I still love them.
I'm growing a lot of L. Cotyledon and L. Tweedyi outdoors here in wet Belgium - all I do is give them a pane of glass for protection during very wet periods.  If you can plant them more or less vertically, providing sharp drainage, there's even no need for that.
I'm sure they would do even better in Hungary than out here.
They certainly stand heavy frost without a problem - it's wet feet and water in their rosettes (especially in winter) that they don't stand.
Too bad I have no seed left, but I can surely send you some later in the season if you want some.
Maybe I could even send you some young seedlings in a couple of months - don't know if they would stand the trip though ??

Let me know

[Katherine J]

You are all so kind! Thank you for the encouraging!
I have been thinking for a couple of years to try to grow Lewisias but until now it was only thinking.
So I'm thankful to Paul (and also to Michael) to remember me
I don't know if the seedlings would stand the trip, though the Lewisia rediviva story is very promising (http://www.nargs.org/potm/potm_jun00.html).
But I would be grateful also for seeds.
I thought maybe I could purchase some plants at Prague this spring. But plants grown by myself would be certainly more precious for me.

[hadacekf]

Kathrine,
Lewisia like no lime!

[Michael J Campbell]

Kathrine, Lewisia Brachycalyx and nevadensis will live in a well drained site over the winter,and any of the Brachycalyx x Cotyledon, Revivida x Cotyledon, and any of the Longipetala hybs will survive outside without protection. I have them all planted in a scree bed and they are doing fine and flowering every year here in the west of Ireland, one of the wettest places in Europe.
The hybs of the deciduous forms are all  evergreen and repeat flowering all summer, and they are almost waterproof. ( they need lots of water in the growing season)I have had them in flower at Christmas. I gave up because I could not convince people to plant them outside, nobody was interested. 
 

[Martin Baxendale]

Paul, thanks for the lewisia log. It's reminded me why I used to grow lewisias and why I should start again. My experiences with them go back to when my parents grew them and pretty much all you could get were the old L. cotyledon 'Sunset' strain. Call me tastless, but I always loved the gaudiest magenta L. cotyledon forms when I was growing them. Now all I have is two L. rediviva that have been with me for over 10 years. They sit on top of a perspex plant cover about 6ft off the ground on top of a wood store, open to the elements all year round, in two 3in pots,  and refuse to die despite all the neglect I can throw a them. I think they deserve some company for sticking with me, so I'm making a note to order some seed from Ashwoods .

[Katherine J]

Kathrine,
Lewisia like no lime!

Yes I know that Franz, thank you. Anyway, I'm going to grow them in throughs, so I will make for them the compost they need.

Michael,
thank you very much. I understand your disappointment, people can be so strangely stupid sometimes.

Call me tastless, but I always loved the gaudiest magenta L. cotyledon forms when I was growing them.

They are just wonderful!

I became very enthusiasted now, I will look for seed in nurseries. Thank you again Paul for your impulse.

[Michael J Campbell]

Kathrine,I have a few seed left I can send you, one a single rosette type I was developing that would be more resistant to the wet because it did not produce offsets. the other is a pink cotyledon. I have only about 20 of each but you are welcome to them if you want.
Send me a PM with your address if you are interested.

cheers Michael.

[Paul T]

Great log!!  Finally catching up on a backlog of them so lots and lots of wonderful reading.

Looking forward to some Lewisia seedlings in the coming spring.... just about to sow some seed sent to me a couple of months ago as it is our autumn now.  The log just inspires me even more.  Thanks.