Grrrrrr.......... Dierama Drama!

[KentGardener]

Hi All

just thought I would have a moan and get this off my chest!

About 10 years ago my aunt gave me some Dierama seedlings - very nice but a bit too pink for me (I am not very keen on pink flowers in the garden).  I have searched ever since for some of the darker flowered ones.  2 years ago I actually found 'a small nursery based in Lancashire in the North-west of the UK' selling Dierama 'Black Bird' and immediately ordered it.

As is to be expected with Dierama it sulked for the first year and now two years later I have been expectantly watching the very first flower spike develop over the last couple of weeks.  Imagine my bitter disappointment when I got home from work today to find another BL**DY pink flower!!!  AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!


My Dierama Drama!


If anyone out there in SRGC land has a nice dark flowered form and would be willing to send me an offset I would be eternally grateful..

regards

John

[Maggi Young]

Oh, dear, poor John! Just been seeing the pix of assorted Dierama in "THe Garden" magazine and spotted the rather luscious Black Bird there...... very nice indeed..... can't say I have ever seen this plant in anyone's garden , though!

[WimB]

Hi John,

I bought seeds from dierama "blackbird" from chiltern last year. I still haven't got any flowers (probably next year). If it is blackbird I'll let you know and I'll send you an offset but you'll have to wait untill I'm sure it's Blackbird.

[Lesley Cox]

Maggi, 'Blackbird' is in the garden of your own Anne and Bill, right here in Dunedin. It was flowering when Ian was here.

John, I have 'Blackbird,' just a single bulb with a few small offsets, but I did get seed this autumn and haven't done anything with it yet. Would you like to try it from seed? At least some may come true, maybe even darker.

If so, let me have your postal address in a PM.

Lesley

[mark smyth]

I thought 'Blackbird' was lost?

[Paul T]

I have a dark purple type, but no idea of name.  I get seed of it usually, in fact I probably have some seed from it from previous years if you're interested?  Its a south african plant so the seed probably lasts for ever, so there shouldn't be any aging problems.   I can dig up a pic of it if you're interested in seeing it?

[Maggi Young]

Maggi, 'Blackbird' is in the garden of your own Ann and Bill, right here in Dunedin. It was flowering when Ian was here.


Lesley

Well, blow me down with a feather! It seems that good taste runs in the family!

[ChrisB]

The article in the Garden magazine says seed may not come true with the same, dark flowers though.... and it takes 3-5 years to discover whether you have the plant you wanted....

[KentGardener]

Hi All

thank you to Lesley and Paul for the offer of seed - I am tempted.... but think I would be most happy to find someone who could let me have a tiny bulb from a known dark flowered form.  My little garden already has too many pots in it - and to grow the seedlings on for the next two or three years to hopefully find something that is not PINK would not be practical.  (Once I win the lottery and buy somewhere with a couple of acres I shall give the seed idea a go).

Fingers crossed there is someone out there with a nice dark flowered form willing to send me a little bulb?  Or maybe someone could suggest a good nursery that will sell me one that is a true dark form (and not another pink, listed as Blackbird, like I got from a certain nursery with its very own thread on this section of the forum!)

Please 

John

[WimB]

John,

maybe this is a good site for you (they have a very dark form called 'Merlin')

http://www.firtreespelargoniums.co.uk/Dierama.htm

[Lvandelft]

John,
I think that many Dierama are grown from seed, because that is easy for
the producer, and profitable too because he can sell a young plant for a
good price.
Therefore it's always a surprise what is coming out of the plant you acquired.
Here is a picture of D. igneum (bought as that), wich is described as pink or pale brick pink .
When I see my plant I don't complain. 
I can only advise to buy seedling plants in flower at specialist nurseries, which are at least mature
and maybe a bit more expensive.
I did google a bit and saw that there are several nurseries in Southern England
which have more than one Dierama.


Dierama igneum June 2008
Dierama igneum

[Maggi Young]

Yes, nice D. igneum colour, Luit.

I do like the colour of 'Merlin', too.... can anyone who has bought from this nursery recommend it?

[David Nicholson]

I think Mark has recommended Fir Trees Pelagorniums before

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, David, I hadn't "registered" that, since it was likely about pelargoniums.....and I am not looking for any of those 

[Lesley Cox]

I thought 'Blackbird' was lost?

Perhaps it flew south for the winter Mark and liked the climate so decided to stay