Id help needed please.

[Slug Killer]

Hi

A friend has asked for some help with the below and I have not got any idea.

[Maggi Young]

Ooh! Stunning little Cremanthodium !

[annew]

wOW! Don't tell them it's difficult, or it will immediately keel over and expire.

[Maggi Young]

There is a Cremanthodium key here:
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/mss/volume21/Asteraceae-AGH-Senecioneae-part1_coauthoring.htm

[Slug Killer]

That was quick. I'll let them know tomorrow. They have a few but only two with flower as of yet. Thanks for your help they can fill out the blank labels.

[johnw]

Slug killer

Good grief, Cremanthodiums that are alive! A rare site. The slugs love these here and I have only managed to keep C. reniformis going in the south.

Tell us how you manage to grow them to such a state of perfection and health.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

John W..... are these C. reniformis ?

[Slug Killer]

Going back to the original post on Cremanthodiums. As the owner had no idea what they were, she potted them in a mix of medium bark (Melcourt Potting Bark) some perlite and John Innes No1. They have been left in the middle of the patio in full sun and seem to be doing fine. Probably against all recommended growing techniques but it's worked so far.

[Maggi Young]

Going back to the original post on Cremanthodiums. As the owner had no idea what they were, she potted them in a mix of medium bark (Melcourt Potting Bark) some perlite and John Innes No1. They have been left in the middle of the patio in full sun and seem to be doing fine. Probably against all recommended growing techniques but it's worked so far.

I'd have to say... if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Your friend is doing fine with these lovely plants....lucky woman!

[johnw]

John W..... are these C. reniformis ?

Hmm? I'm not a good one to ask. I see a few leaves in the picture that look kidney-shaped. I got my seed from Finn Haugli so am fairly certain mine is true.

The leaves here are very shiny, smooth and distinctly kidney-shaped. Ihave seen no signs of purple flushing.  The AGS Encyclopaedia of Alpines says "basal leaves, broadly ovate, 5-10cm long, finely toothed, reddish to purpl flushed beneath and often above"... "flowers 3.5-5cm across, the rays yellow, late summer to autumn"..."flowering stems reddish to purple with a few small leaves".

Mine could still be juvenile so will defer to the Cremanthodium experts out there.

johnw 

[Lesley Cox]

A wonderful sight they are. Patio in full sun? OK but tell her to keep a close eye.....