Puzzles

[johnw]

Maybe Edgeworthia really is a puzzle.....
...I don't know if it's one of those things where there have been multiple introductions from different parts of its range, and these introductions differ in their hardiness.
Bean says it didn't prove hardy at Kew, but they have several well established plants, both as a wall shrub and in an open bed at Wisley.
My biggest plant is in a pot, and I put it in a frost free greenhouse at night if its going to be cold, as it browns quite badly, yet I have several seedlings, which are kept in the greenhouse all of the time, which are still in full leaf.
It's a puzzle  

Giles - Thinking back I recall seeing an Edgeworthia in flower at Tony Avent's nursery in North Carolina about 10 years ago. Of course it was deciduous and it was the typical yellow which at the time I assumed was chrysantha.  Surely it must have taken some cold there, probably more than you'd experience. Also a friend tells me it survived in Vancouver after last winter with no damage.  Does it not grow out in wide open grasslands in China?  Maybe it does get some summer heat and a long summer dry stretch.

johnw

[Maggi Young]

Maybe Edgeworthia really is a puzzle.....
...I don't know if it's one of those things where there have been multiple introductions from different parts of its range, and these introductions differ in their hardiness.
Bean says it didn't prove hardy at Kew, but they have several well established plants, both as a wall shrub and in an open bed at Wisley.
My biggest plant is in a pot, and I put it in a frost free greenhouse at night if its going to be cold, as it browns quite badly, yet I have several seedlings, which are kept in the greenhouse all of the time, which are still in full leaf.
It's a puzzle  

 I can't speak to Edgworthia, but lots of smaller plants and bulbs seeem to have seedlings which are much hardier than their parents.Another of life's mysteries!

[Lesley Cox]

Maybe just a matter of the progeny, having been born in situ, being better suited to the prevailing conditions than the parents which may have come from warmer climes.

[johnw]

Maybe Edgeworthia really is a puzzle.....
...I don't know if it's one of those things where there have been multiple introductions from different parts of its range, and these introductions differ in their hardiness.
Bean says it didn't prove hardy at Kew, but they have several well established plants, both as a wall shrub and in an open bed at Wisley.
My biggest plant is in a pot, and I put it in a frost free greenhouse at night if its going to be cold, as it browns quite badly, yet I have several seedlings, which are kept in the greenhouse all of the time, which are still in full leaf.
It's a puzzle  

 I can't speak to Edgworthia, but lots of smaller plants and bulbs seeem to have seedlings which are much hardier than their parents.Another of life's mysteries!

And I guess the sloppier one is about growing things from seeds the better the chance of getting good-doers.  To bad it doesn't seem to work with Meconopsis and Asiatic Primulae!     It would be nice to have some rampant ones.

johnw

[Anthony Darby]

 I can't speak to Edgworthia, but lots of smaller plants and bulbs seeem to have seedlings which are much hardier than their parents.Another of life's mysteries!

Genetic variation which allows species to adapt to changes in the environment.

[Brian Ellis]

Brian - Is this because the leaves are damaged or bark is split?

Sorry John, only just seen this as we had Ann B for lunch yesterday and I didn't get on the computer for long - lot's of snowdrop talk of course!  The leaves seem to have taken a fright, but hopefully it will do it's thing for me nonetheless.  Last year was it's first year in the ground and it was covered with fleece, but this year it had to fend for itself ... I'll keep you posted if it perks up.

[Paddy Tobin]

You are the brave one, Brian. They are a bit on the tender side.

Paddy

[Stephenb]

This should be an easy one. What's this plant?

[Maggi Young]

Oh... it's a plant? Not a bunch of babies in frilly bonnets? 

[Casalima]

A friend has used his best botanical knowledge and research skills to arrive at a Coriandrum sativum flower.

If so, very Portuguese (though not so much my part of Portugal ...).

Are we right?

[ranunculus]

He is a very clever chap, Chloe ... congratulations!

[Stephenb]

A friend has used his best botanical knowledge and research skills to arrive at a Coriandrum sativum flower.

If so, very Portuguese (though not so much my part of Portugal ...).

Are we right?

Very good try, Chloe, but it's wrong I'm afraid...

As for Maggie's attempt, well I see where you're going, but sorry also wrong...

[Casalima]

A friend has used his best botanical knowledge and research skills to arrive at a Coriandrum sativum flower.
If so, very Portuguese (though not so much my part of Portugal ...).
Are we right?

Very good try, Chloe, but it's wrong I'm afraid...
As for Maggie's attempt, well I see where you're going, but sorry also wrong...

We thought it might be a bit too white for coriander ....
Thinking caps on again ...
(Is it edible?    )

[Stephenb]

Yes, but I don't think that will help you....

[Anthony Darby]

Reminds me of Burnet Saxifrage. No size reference, so could just be Hog weed  (Heracleum sphondylium)?