Eranthis pinnatifida

[Diane Clement]

I grow E pinnatifida and stellata, but neither showing signs of life yet.
Here's a good page for comparision of the species (and a brilliant website, fantastic photography of fantastic plants, take a look if you've a few hours to spare: John Lonsdale at Edgewood garden)

http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/Plants_album/The%20Plants%20-%20%20Complete%20Collection/Ranunculaceae/Eranthis/index2.html

I grow both, but neither showing signs of life yet. 

For the whole site, the home page is http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/

[Lesley Cox]

It looks as if PJC has sent you 2 pinnatifida Fred, and no stellata. Annoying, but I wouldn't be complaining

[Maggi Young]

Here is a pic from a year or two ago of Alan Newton's Eranthis stellata

[Lesley Cox]

So none of the lovely blue colour on the nectaries (?).

[BULBISSIME]

Thank's Maggie ! Look's different !
But I still have problem as we had a look in Floras with some French friends, and E. stellata, in 'Flora of china' is.... Yellow !!
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200008006
I think systematic in this genus is not clear 

[Gerdk]

I grow E pinnatifida and stellata, but neither showing signs of life yet.
I grow both, but neither showing signs of life yet. 

Diane,
Do you think Eranthis stellata is hardier than pinnatifida?
I lost the first one when planted it in the garden.

Gerd

[Diane Clement]

Diane,
Do you think Eranthis stellata is hardier than pinnatifida?
I lost the first one when planted it in the garden.  Gerd 

I'd always thought that E stellata was hardier, but I'm not sure there's much difference.  I grow mine in pots, I wouldn't like to risk them in the ground, with hungry mice and squirrels.  Looking at John Lonsdale's site, he is presumably growing them in the open garden.  I would think his winter temperatures in Pennsylvania are not so different than ours, perhaps you are a little colder, Gerd?
One problem is establishing new plants, if they are sent dormant in the summer, they can be too dry, so better to try and get hold of growing plants (not an easy task).  For the last 4 years, I have collected seed from E pinnatifida, sown it fresh but never had one germinate.  What's the secret Maggi?

[Maggi Young]

We sow back in the pot with the parent, Diane.


Fred, I had not before this read the Flora of China  entry for this eranthis! Yes, it does state "yellow"..... I had thought that pinnatifida was a simple regional variation but .....
Alan Newton tells me that the leaves on stellata are not so finely cut as on pinnatifida.
Has anyone seen a yellow E. stellata?

[Gerdk]

I'd always thought that E stellata was hardier, but I'm not sure there's much difference.  I grow mine in pots, I wouldn't like to risk them in the ground, with hungry mice and squirrels.  Looking at John Lonsdale's site, he is presumably growing them in the open garden.  I would think his winter temperatures in Pennsylvania are not so different than ours, perhaps you are a little colder, Gerd?

Thank you, Diane. I am USDA - Zone 7 b, maybe you are 8?

Gerd

[Diane Clement]

Thank you, Diane. I am USDA - Zone 7 b, maybe you are 8?   Gerd   

Officially, yes, zone 8, although often nearer zone 9 these days, even with current winter.  Our lowest this year (and probably for several years) has been -9C and USDA zones are of course only based on minimum winter temperatures.   Your summers will be significantly warmer than ours.
I took a look in my pots of E stellata and E pinnatifida today as nothing is yet showing, and both pots have firm tubers in but hardly any sign of life.  Interesting how BD Ian 500 miles north of here had pinnatifida in flower, it must be the soil warming cables.  My sand plunge is only at about 0C and hasn't been much higher for a couple of weeks or more.   

[Maggi Young]

Diane, BD's Eranthis pinnatifida came out of outside frame with no warming cables. Two weeks ago when he showed the first pic in the BulbLog, he had brought the pot out of that frame into a glass house to stop the emerging flowers being eaten by slugs. 

Warming cables have only been on the last few nights. 
Curiouser and curiouser!

[Diane Clement]

Diane, BD's Eranthis pinnatifida came out of outside frame with no warming cables. Two weeks ago when he showed the first pic in the BulbLog, he had brought the pot out of that frame into a glass house to stop the emerging flowers being eaten by slugs. 

Warming cables have only been on the last few nights. 
Curiouser and curiouser!

So what's the clue then?  Maybe mine are too dry.  Also, my greenhouse is fairly shady as is all the garden.  Anyway, I don't really mind if they flower later. 

[Maggi Young]

I think the clue is moisture available to the plant.
 As you say, Diane, it's no hardship if yours flower later....  perhaps then there are other things to take the attention of the slugs, too! 

[Diane Clement]

I think the clue is moisture available to the plant.
 As you say, Diane, it's no hardship if yours flower later....  perhaps then there are other things to take the attention of the slugs, too! 

I've been looking for the pictures from last year, to see when they flowered, but I can't find them for all those d... hepaticas that look similar from a distance, or in a thumbnail

[JohnLonsdale]

"Looking at John Lonsdale's site, he is presumably growing them in the open garden.  I would think his winter temperatures in Pennsylvania are not so different than ours"

We are USDA zone 6b.  Our low this winter so far has been -16C without snow.  Eranthis pinnatifida and stellata are grown in raised beds and the open ground and are quite hardy, so I doubt cold is your problem, unless drainage is less than excellent.  I noticed E. pinnatifida just coming through at the weekend.  Seeds germinate without trouble the first spring after being sown fresh.

Best,

John