alpine and subalpine Plants from New Zealand

[Leucogenes]

Hello David,

many thanks. I try my best. Most alpine NZ grow in my garden really very well.

But I also sometimes have losses. From Gentianella saxosa I had 2 years ago still a nice continuance. (see picture # 69 on the page 5). Then the complete plant was dug out at a night by an animal and was destroyed. At that time I was very sad. Last year I found two small seedlings on a plant stock exchange... now I hope I these Species again in my small New Zealand - area can set up. I like them very much. Two weeks ago I got some seeds of Gentianella Montana. NZAGS Seed Exchange. I am curious whether I with it success has. To get New Zealand or Australian Gentianella-seed is nearly impossible here. All the more is glad about these seeds. nevertheless, 😊

 With you would have to grow the alpine NZ much better in own garden, than with me? You have, nevertheless, certainly much better conditions than me... and always supplies before the front door 😉😉.

The photo is very impressive, as usual, David. I will change my arrangement sometime something and extend.

Thomas

[David Lyttle]

Hi Thomas,

Hope you are successful with your Gentianella montana seed. I once managed to germinate some Gentianella corymbifera (a larger plant) but was unable to grow the plants to maturity and flowering. Gentianella montana is monocarpic so if you do manage to flower them the plant will then die.

Here are two  more pictures of gentians which I have identified as Gentianella divisa but they may be Gentianella montana - they are difficult to identify at times.

[Leucogenes]

Hi David,

what for two breathtaking photos of my darling - Gentianella. G. divisia is for me one of the nicest kinds (which I know till present 😊). I got some seeds of it last year. Up to now, unfortunately, I still achieved no success with the germination. I will not decontaminate the pot, however, yet. Maybe the seeds still need the second winter for the germination. However, it can also be the seeds were already too old. I do not give up hope yet. Maybe I get sometime over again seed of this really attractive beauty. 😉😉 Especially nicely I also find the foliage. I think this plant the complete season looks very nice. Have you tried it already with yourself in the garden??

 Are there only white Gentianella in NZ? Or is there not also a yellow kind?

... nicely are they, in any case, everybody.

Thomas

[Leucogenes]

... I got, by the way, in last winter seed from the botanical garden of Phillipe. Gentianella corymbifera and Gentianella serotina. Sowing on the 10.03.17... Till present still nothing is to be seen of course. But Philippe explained to me, I should have some patience with seed NZ. He leaves some pots up to 4 years. I was always too impatient during the last years and have presumably said goodbye too early to the pots. 

I idiot. 😭

How are your experiences with the sowing of various NZ alpine?

Thomas

[Leucogenes]

Hi David,

here is the proof... you were right retime absolutely. Nevertheless, from me as a Coprosma perpusilla bought plant is Coprosma petriei. I love the blue metallic colour of the berries. However, I would also have been glad very much, if it C. perpusilla would have been... I still have no Coprosma with red berries. But I am also glad about this sight of C. petriei.

Again many thanks for the regulation. Only on the basis of a small photo... my respect. There one sees the real specialist.

Thomas

[David Lyttle]

Hi Thomas,

Your Coprosma petriei is a lovely plant. I think it is perhaps the best of the turfy Coprosmas with its blue berries. Clearly you have mastered the art of growing them and you are fortunate to have both male and female plants. I have a male C. petriei growing in my crevice garden which will never produce berries. I do have a batch of seedlings and hopefully I will get a female plant from it. I also have a female Coprosma atropurpurea. These little Coprosma are  easy to propagate just by dividing the plants as the stems root freely.

[Leucogenes]

Hello David,
this is an interesting subject. I have put this question already once to you. Maybe you have not read (answer # 90 on the page 7) it. 😉

 My friends of the Arctic alpine garden and I have the following supposition... it is possibly this the male plant of C. acerosa the female plant of C. petrei fertilises?? Since we have only female plants of C. petriei. And a male C. acerosa. Differently we are able to do to us the blue berries with C. petriei do not explain. Maybe you have an explanation to this phenomenon.

Now I do not have two females... if the way to you so far would be, I would send you with pleasure a copy. But I believe the plant if the long trip did not survive. Or?

Thomas

[David Lyttle]

Hello Thomas,

In answer to your question (a) it is possible for Coprosma species to be fertilised by another Coprosma species creating a hybrid. These are frequently encountered in nature and I have seen a a Coprosme petriei x propinqua plant. and
(b) Female Coprosma plants can also produce fruit without fertilisation (apomixis).

[Leucogenes]

Hi David... many thanks for your skilled consultation and answer.

Now, finally, the riddle is solved. Now also explains itself why my older female Coprosma petriei during some years fruits had, although the male Coprosma acerosa have not blossomed. I like this type really very much. Till present my older copy still shows no fruits this year. Maybe they still come. But also so I am fascinated by this plant. She has developed with me to a nice upholsterer. And the thick foliage looks very nice the whole year. I like the other kinds which you have described also very well. But one never gets that here to shop. I is to be owned quite gladly these two kinds. 😊

 It is really impressive that you cultivate these nice local plants in your garden.

Bye... your apprentice Thomas 😁

[David Lyttle]

Hello Thomas,

I found these photos and thought you might like to see them
Coprosma petriei



Coprosma petriei filling a rock crevice



Coprosma petriei x Coprosma propinqua. Coprosma propinqua is a widespread shrubby species

[Maggi Young]

Coprosma petriei filling a rock crevice

 And doing so  very efficiently.  How neat. 

[Leucogenes]

Hi David,
the best thanks for the new Coprosma pictures. Very interesting.

Today I was retime by  my botanical friends of the Arctic alpine garden. There appear just the berries of Coprosma atropurpurea. (Picture 1) I hopes it is the right kind. This plant was pulled from wild seeds. Site of the discovery... Mt. Cook, Tasman Valley, 1020 m.

 Now need my friends please retime your help. The second picture also shows a Coprosma, 1.80 m high and has just a little bit egg-shaped bluish grey berries. Unfortunately, my friends have no exact names and ask for confirmation or correction. They suppose Coprosma rugosa is. However, they are not sure. What you say in addition?... as a professional 😉

the best thanks
Thomas

[David Lyttle]

There appear just the berries of Coprosma atropurpurea. (Picture 1) I hopes it is the right kind. This plant was pulled from wild seeds. Site of the discovery... Mt. Cook, Tasman Valley, 1020 m.

 Now need my friends please retime your help. The second picture also shows a Coprosma, 1.80 m high and has just a little bit egg-shaped bluish grey berries. Unfortunately, my friends have no exact names and ask for confirmation or correction. They suppose Coprosma rugosa is. However, they are not sure. What you say in addition?... as a professional 😉

the best thanks
Thomas

Hello Thomas,

The first picture is correctly identified as Coprosma atropurpurea. The berries are wine-red and the leaves are covered with small hairs. The plant usually grows as a tight mat in nature - yours is more loose than perhaps due to the cultivation conditions.

The second picture is possibly Coprosma rugosa. Coprosma rugosa is an erect, rather untidy shrub and tends to spread by suckering. The berries are blue when they are ripe (they are edible and taste sweet as they are full of sugar). However there are several other Coprosma species with narrow linear leaves that I cannot exclude. Coprosma brunnea is a prostrate sprawling species of inland river beds. Coprosma acerosa is similar but is found on coastal sand dunes. Coprosma elatirioides is a species of oligotrophic wetlands and bogs. Coprosma intertexta is a shrubby species of dry intermontane basins where it usually grows in  the shrublands characteristic of these areas.

However it is likely that your plant is Coprosma rugosa so I am attaching two pictures for comparison (1) close up with unripe fruit and (2) showing plant

[David Lyttle]

And doing so  very efficiently.  How neat. 

Hi Maggi,

It is the ideal rock garden plant compact, neat (especially if you have hares in your garden to keep it trimmed) and with attractive blue berries. Not much in the way of flowers though.

[Leucogenes]

Hi David,
many thanks for the confirmation. Also in the name of my friends. They confirm your statement... them the Coprosma atropurpurea have with her botanical excursion in 2000 also with very thick foliage in recollection. Unfortunately, the location for New Zealand is a patch in this garden a little bit too much in the shade. I have also told my friends this are very sweet the berries of Coprosma rugosa. I said them them next year of it jam should make... or a schnapps would be even better. 🥃 😉

Thomas