Plants Lost to, or Very Rare in, Cultivation

[Rodger Whitlock]

Gradually, I have become aware of a number of plants which seem to have been lost in cultivation here in Victoria. At one time, we had a good alpine nursery, Ed Lohbrunner's Lakeside Gardens, but that's been closed for 25 years now. I'm pretty sure all specimens have died of the more delicate and demanding plants sold by Ed Lohbrunner. I'm going to list here plants in which I have a special interest, but hope others will chime in naming plants lost or very rare in their own country.

The object of the exercise is, in part, to put those who are succeeding with these plants on notice that what they have is worth preserving and if possible propagating and spreading around to prevent loss. Gradually, private international trading of plants is becoming less and less feasible. When a plant of this nature is lost in a given country, it may now be impossible to replace it. Hence the need to focus attention on plants at risk of loss.

Asteranthera ovata
Sarmienta repens
Myrteola nummularia
Orphanidesia gaultherioides
Pteridophyllum racemosum
Tsusiophyllum tanakae
Anemone appenina, double
Santolina 'Weston'

Addenda:

Primula × pruhoniciana 'E. R. Janes' (an orange juliae hybrid!)

[Martin Baxendale]

Not an alpine, but I'd love to find someone who still grows the old polyanthus primrose 'Barrowby Gem'. As far as I'm aware it's history, but you never know - with the help of a forum like this, you never know your luck.

For those who don't know, 'Barrowby Gem' was famous (and once widely grown) for its very early and long flowering season, its rich yellow colouring with a green eye, and most of all for its very powerful rose-like fragrance. It was originally a strong grower, but gradually lost its vigour and was a martyr to vine weevil grubs. The last nursery selling it in the UK, lost it many years ago.

Before it disappeared I did raise some seedlings from it, as spart of my primrose breeding period, hoping to raise some new, stronger successors to it, but I lost them to severe drought while away on holiday in a scorching drought summer in a new garden with little shade. Then I found I couldn't get new plants of 'Barrowby Gem' to try seed-raising again.

It really was a stunning plant and the one that I'd bring back from the dead if I could. So if anyone does know different, and can point me to a source in some forgotten corner of the globe (not that globes have corners, of course) I'd be immensely grateful.

[mark smyth]

Anemone appenina doubles can be seen on my web site. Right now I cant send a link because my ownership ran out on the 2nd and the hosts have removed the web site already. Very friendly of them!!

[mark smyth]

2010 has to be the year I rescue them from the old garden before it is sold for a housing development. I'll post photos from my hard drive later

[mark smyth]

Something like this Roger?

[Lesley Cox]

The double Anemone apennina is alive and thriving in Australia, at least in NSW and probably in Victoria as well.

The problem you mention Rodger is, indeed, widespread and becoming more so as more and more countries move to block importatation of live plant material. This means that clones or cultivars are especially at risk. Here in New Zealand, Louise Salmond of Hokonui Alpines (our ONLY alpine nursery now), Stuart Murray and I, perhaps a few others, do try to keep track of the plants we used to have, replacing older forms where possible and propagating of course. But gradually, we are all dying off ourselves, - let's face it - and those younger rock gardeners coming on (and they seem to be relatively few) don't know and understand what is lost because they never knew those plants in the first place.

Some time ago Tony Hall at Kew said he believed he had been present at Kew and growing new species through what he called "the golden age" of alpine gardening in that he (Kew) could get anything they wanted from anywhere. The greatest number of introductions from around the world, were available to gardeners at that time.

I feel the same is true for those of us who've been around the block a couple of times already. We have had the best of plant introductions, ease of import, growing conditions and so on. I think it will never be so good again and maybe we have to learn to trim according to available cloth, and cease the yearning for the plants we know exist, but we are never going to be able to have, ourselves. A depressing thought.

[fermi de Sousa]

I feel the same is true for those of us who've been around the block a couple of times already. We have had the best of plant introductions, ease of import, growing conditions and so on. I think it will never be so good again and maybe we have to learn to trim according to available cloth, and cease the yearning for the plants we know exist, but we are never going to be able to have, ourselves. A depressing thought.

Ah, but, Lesley, with age comes wisdom!
I think about all the plants that I've lost over the years and think "if I knew then what I know now - I might've have lost them"! I certainly wouldn't waste time on things I now know wouldn't grow in my conditions....or would I?
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Well Fermi, perhaps it depends on how perverse a nature we have. Logically one wouldn't continue trying to coax growth from cassiopes when one gardens in a hot, semi-desert garden but if one knows that everyone else has given up on them for that reason, one feels some responsibility to keep trying rather than lose the plants altogether which has happened so many times, with so many species here, over recent years.

With age comes wisdom? I don't know. I think in my case age just bring bloodimindedness and a sore back!

[mark smyth]

Rodger from your list Pteridophyllum racemosum is available from UK nurseries

[akivari]

Roger,

I sympathize with your feelings about plants that were and I am in the very preliminary stages of researching how one goes about creating collections and developing a botanical garden on our 36 acre site in Nanaimo, BC.  Along with the Central Vancouver Island Botanical Garden Society's support I have a vision for our lovely G.R.Paine Horticulture Centre that not only offers education for our students here at Vancouver Island University but houses collections of rare, out of the ordinary, exotic, and local plants and a seed repository for the benefit of all.
I have much to learn and am always open to any advice, or knowledge that all of my fellow Rockers can offer and that includes ideas for fundraising, grant writing, etc.
I am planning to attend the Global Botanic Gardens Conference in Dublin, Ireland next June where I am certain to
meet and network with others who have experience with this process.
Leslie Cox stated: "With age comes wisdom? I don't know. I think in my case age just bring bloodimindedness and a sore back!"
I also have plenty of those qualities!

Anne

 

[Maggi Young]

Well, Anne, it seems to me that you have a large task cut out for yourself.... but a very worthwhile one. I do not doubt that there will be offers of help and advice from Forumists whenever you need it.... and probably quite often when you don't!!

With the wide spread of SRGC membership around the world and with so many experts in so many fields
( and the occasional greenhouse! ) I hope we will be some use to you and your project.

[mark smyth]

Anne I hope you come north to see some of the best gardens in Ireland. A weekend should do it.

[akivari]

 
Thanks for the tip, Mark. This will be my first trip to Ireland and I want to make the most of it. I hope to have at least 3 weeks to spend between Ireland and England, perhaps I could squeeze a little Scotland in also.
Any particular gardens you could recommend would be appreciated.

[gote]

I certainly agree that this is a serious problem.
The supply situation is of course different in different parts of the world. The EU is among the better. By using the RHS plant finder (which is a free service) I have found the following. All nurseries in the UK. Some of these plants may be available on the continent as well.

Asteranthera ovata is sold by eleven nurseries
Sarmienta repens is sold by six nurseries in the
Myrteola nummularia is sold by five nurseries
Orphanidesia gaultherioides is sold by Glendoick as Epigaea gaultherioides
Pteridophyllum racemosum is sold by five nurseries (including our president who has two clones). I grow both these since a few years.
Tsusiophyllum tanakae is sold by Glendoick as Rhododendron tsusiophyllum.
Anemone appenina, double is listed by Desirable Plants at £4.
Santolina 'Weston' is listed as Santolina chamaecyparissus 'Weston' by Choice Landscapes.

Species plants are easier than cultivars since they can be propagated by seed. This includes some variations like Viola canina alba which I grow myself and which was last listed by the plant finder in 2008.

Cultivars and strains are more difficult.
Most of the lilies available from Oregon bulb farms sixty years ago seem to be lost. I would be very happy to find a bulb of ‘Destiny’ or ‘Burgundy strain’

Domestic plants like apples and potatoes seem to be better off. There are specialist gardens where these are saved for the future.

The worst to find is that flower Grandmother grew and which had no name.

Göte