Flowers and Foliage September 2008

[arillady]

Nice to see Cerinthe species again. I had them for a few years and then they died out. One of those plants that you seem to have for a while and then you realise that they are no longer around. I would suggest saving some of the seed for later in case you have the same experience. They look like seed that would be viable for a number of years.
Love the colour of Digitalis laevigata.

[Paul T]

They are definitely viable for at least a couple of years.  Have tried sowing them when a couple of years old and they germinate just fine.  No idea how long the limit would be, but would be at least a few years I'd guess.

[olegKon]

Here is something brightening the garden in autunm
Scilla scilloides (first flowers)
White platicodon
Lobelia ?

[Linda_Foulis]

Paul,
That is as open as the flowers get on the minor, I'll take a picture of the entire plant today for you.  It's got a scrambling habit and flops about but worth it I think.  Do you get seed from your yellow major and if so is a swap doable?   Can you post a picture, I've never seen it?

[ashley]

At the bigger end of the scale of alpine plants, Puya berteroniana flowered this summer – 10 years from seed.  Last year it surprised me by branching, as opposed to producing an offshoot at the base which is more typical bromeliad behaviour, but perhaps this was a prelude to flowering.  The spike began to emerge in early June and eventually reached about 1.2 m.  Flowers were deep greenish turquoise, set off by orange stamens and emerald green stigma.  Despite tickling no seed was set so perhaps this species is not self compatible – or else it insists on the attentions of hummingbirds and sunbirds!

[art600]

Ashley

Well worth the wait

[ashley]

Some plants flowering here over the last few weeks:

Alstroemeria pallida, sown January 08
Cyclamen colchicum & purpurascens
Romneya coulteri – did well this year despite the rain & cold
Hydrangea macrophylla
Ferns
Arctotis

[Linda_Foulis]

Paul, Here's a picture of the entire plant of Cerinthe minor aurea.  I've tried tying it up in the past but found it better to give it some space and let it do its thing.

Also an unknown allium blooming now.  Note that probably 75 - 80% of the plants in my garden are started from seed from Gardens North.  This allium was in a mixed seed package.

Clematis ?? heracleifolia - I thought but the description in 'Clematis The Genus' states the foliage is dark green and this is obviously not.  It's just starting to bud out but I don't think our weather will hold and let it bloom.  We're already getting frost warnings! 

Clematis ?? - This from a climbing mix from GN.

Clematis ?? - This from a rare species mix from GN.

And the final four are all heuchera from a mix from GN of course.  I love the variation that came with this mix.

[Paul T]

Linda,

I'll check what seeds I have.  Thankfully I try to harvest some each time, as some years it doesn't reappear for some reason.  This is one of those years, but I'm 99% certain I have seeds stored.  Once I have some germinated I'll send you any remainder I have.  So how big does the minor get?

Ashley,

That Puya is stunning.  What a colour!!!!!!!!!  What sort of temperature requirements do they have?  I've heard of the genus but know nothing at all about it really.  I think the only time I've seen them is when posted here on the forums.  I seem to recall remarking on that incredible colour to someone some year or other.  Amazing!!

[Craig]

Ashley,
I'm with Paul on the Puya - it's a real jaw dropper! Shame it didn't like being tickled!

Best Wishes,

Craig

[ashley]

Thanks Arthur, Paul and Craig.  Yes the colour is unique and extremely beautiful but I found it impossible to photograph accurately. 

P. berteroniana has had temperatures briefly down to -5 or -7˚C here without ill effect.  Similarly for Pp. alpestris, caerulea, chilensis and venusta, but I have lost some plants of mirabilis.  The wet of our winters poses a greater threat, so they are planted in gravely, well-drained soil open to the south (NH). 

One of the particular advantages of berteroniana for gardens is that the rosettes are small and leaves are relatively soft.  At the other extreme is chilensis which is approaching 2 m in diameter here, is considerably less gardener-friendly than a tangle of razor-wire and has yet to flower!

[Paul T]

Hmmmm.. that much cold eh?  Must look out for it.... looks like it could be worth the 10 year wait.  Is the inflorescence terminal to the rosette?  I think it is with most Broms isn't it?  You said yours had branched, so I hope that means you will actually have something left for future years?

[ashley]

Yes the spike is terminal Paul.  However the branch is quite big now so I expect the rosette to survive and perhaps even perform again before another decade passes

[Lesley Cox]

When I was at the Mt Tomah Botanic Garden west of Sydney in 2003, there was a fantastic puya, perhaps alpina, in full bloom and covered with dozens of Australian birds, presumably sunbirds, at least 3 species, all supping honey for all they were worth. Bet that one made seed!

[Kristl Walek]

There are some folks who believe that Podophyllum seed is ephemeral---I know this is not the case with P. hexandrum (emodi), which actually benefits from 6 months+ dry storage.

Does anyone have first hand experience with dry stored seed (6 months or longer) of other species?