Alpines at Wisley.

[Paul Cumbleton]

Lesley,
I wrote about Petromarula, including pictures of its intriguing pollination mechanism, on log 15 of 2008 (17 July) of my Wisley Log. Worth a read as the mechanism is fascinating

Cheers

Paul

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks Paul, I'll have a look there right away.

[Lesley Cox]

What an incredible performance. As you said, "Aren't plants amazing."

[Paddy Tobin]

A wonderful set of photographs; enjoyed them very much; many thanks, Paddy

[Giles]

Some more things from Wisley, (but not alpines this time).
Meconopsis betonicifolia
Candelabra Primulas
Crinodendron hookerianum
Cornus kousa 'Satomi'

[Giles]

My favourites at the moment: Styrax and Magnolias
Sytrax hemsleyanus 1 and 2
Magnolia macrophylla

[Giles]

Some more magnolias:
Magnolia 'Judy'
Magnolia unknown
Magnolia obovata
Magnolia officinalis biloba

[Giles]

Cercis griffithii
Dierama 'Blue Belle'
Rhododendron nice purple stem/pale green leaf combination

[Onion]

Giles,

Is there a Styrax americanus in Wisely? Looks like this year is a good year for Styrax. The Styrax obassia in the nursery is full of flowers, not seen so much in the last five years. I ask for the S. americanus because we have only little ones. But the have a huge quantity of flours for this little plants. About 100 hundred for a plant of 60- 80 cm.

[Giles]

Uli,
- I didn't see one. But did see S.obassia and S. japonica (I think).
Fantastic scent, and humming with bees.
I've ordered seed of every Styrax, Pterostyrax and Halesia  I can find... I was that impressed !! 

[Rodger Whitlock]

I've ordered seed of every Styrax, Pterostyrax and Halesia  I can find... I was that impressed !! 

A wise move, indeed. I have two styraces only, both S. japonica, a "dwarf" form that tops out at about 12' height. Grown from seed 20+ years ago and among the first plants into the soil in my present garden.

Unfortunately, most of my garden is too waterlogged in winter for S. japonica, so those two remain the only ones, being in one of the few sites not soaking wet in winter. I have a potted specimen of the pink-flowered form, but frankly it's inferior to the usual white.

Are you aware that S. japonica (at least my two) is scented very sweetly?

I first saw S. japonica in the garden of Sallie Allen in Seattle 25 years or so ago. She was a notable collector of ericaceous plants and had her styrax growing as an understory plant among the huge Douglas firs that shaded her garden. The layered form of the plant gave it a grace rare among trees.

S. japonica is prone to winter die-back, almost certainly due to wintertime wet, which so many Japanese plants loathe. This last winter I had a flat of seedlings, which I simply moved under cover to keep the water off, and every one of them came through with no die-back. But one of my mature trees lost a major limb.

[Brian Ellis]

Looking forward to see these at Wisley tomorrow

S. japonica, a "dwarf" form that tops out at about 12' height

Mmm I feel a purchase coming on

[Paul Cumbleton]

Hi Uli,
I have just checked the database at Wisley and it lists one plant of Styrax americanus in the garden, with another plant at Harlow Carr. I haven't actually seen the plant to confirm it is still there (sometimes the database isn't up to date) but it shows there should be one.

Cheers

Paul

[Onion]

Thank you Paul for this information.
Another reason to see your Paradise. 

Cheers Uli

[Paddy Tobin]

Giles,

I've just spotted the Styrax from May 29th - now, that's a fabulous plant, simply brilliant. (Better than all these little eense weensie little things we see so often - but don't tell anybody that I said that)

Paddy