Pleione 2025

[Tim Harberd]

As mentioned previously: It is my intention to show more Pleione here this year. Hopefully a few other forum members will chip in.

The season has started, as usual, with P. Shantung ‘Ducat’ (R6.35) This one is 10cm across. Personally I don't like these lone early flowers, as they can be over before the rest of the flowers in the pan are fully open

P. Kettlewell ‘Garth’ (H161.2) and P. Marco Polo (H168.2) are not far behind. It really is high time H168.2 got a name! Any suggestions? I’ll talk to Dad about it this week.

Coming up, this P. Shantung ‘Natasha’(R6.40) has put up two double headers. I’m not a fan of twin flowers, since the second is often twisted, but I do take the trait as a sign of general good health. On which point, note the uneven colouring of the developing buds. This was the start of last year’s virus scare! I expect these flowers to have normal colouring once fully mature, but time will tell.

Tim DH

[Maggi Young]

Here are two Pleiones shown by Don Peace at the Hexham Show on Saturday 29th March  2025 - the photos were taken by Alan Gardner.

[Tim Harberd]

Hi Maggi,
   Thanks for those. … I hope the quality doesn’t put other people off from posting!

   I think Ueli Wackernagel is an underrated grex, and Don’s ‘Enigma’ is a good example of it. It’s a very forgiving group. A friend of mine used to grow them, all year round, in the bathroom!

   Ducat is just about in full swing now. The yellow in the petals isn’t quite as pure as I’d like.
The first P. Shepherds Warning ‘MaryB’ has opened. Both these cultivars are about three weeks earlier than a decade ago, which had me a little nervous.

Tim DH