Flowering Now - September 2009

[dominique]

again

[Lori S.]

Blue berries? What species is that Lori?

I don't know off-hand, Lesley... and it's possible I'm not even remembering correctly on that point!...  but I'll pay attention and take photos when we visit there this fall.

[Stephenb]

Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver (zone 8-ish) has a beautiful planting of Sorbus spp - various berry colours - pink, white, blue(?? - TBD), yellow anyway, etc. - and various leaf shapes.  (We hope to visit there and UBC again this fall.)  S. aucuparia, S. americana and S. decora and hybrids thereof, at least, are hardy here.  The neighbors planted a hybrid a few years ago that has oak leaf shaped leaves - it's done well so far.

That brought back some memories. About 15 years ago I had a project in Fiji (poor me) and passed through Vancouver and I remember being blown away by the range of cultivars of Sorbus aucuparia and other Sorbi (?) they were growing at van Dusen (had actually forgotten the name of the arboretum) - have some slides somewhere.

A couple of British natives for you:

First Sorbus devoniensis taken in Martin Crawford's Forest Garden in Totnes, Devon has large quite tasty fruits - the seed of the one I tasted sadly didn't germinate
Second, too early for the berries, but this is Sorbus bristoliensis in the botanics in some place called Aberdeen

Then, a couple of pictures of the impressive Sorbus domestica pyrifera in Kew Gardens….

I’m also a compulsive sorboseedaholic!

[cohan]

Van Dusen Gardens in Vancouver (zone 8-ish) has a beautiful planting of Sorbus spp - various berry colours - pink, white, blue(?? - TBD), yellow anyway, etc. - and various leaf shapes.  (We hope to visit there and UBC again this fall.)  S. aucuparia, S. americana and S. decora and hybrids thereof, at least, are hardy here.  The neighbors planted a hybrid a few years ago that has oak leaf shaped leaves - it's done well so far.

i'm not sure what ours is, but most probably aucuparia, though i'm not positive, it is tending to remain rather shrubby, but as i mentioned, that may be due to wildlife pruning; i think its managed to grow out of their reach now, so may start to get more treeish...
i dont think i'd bother to grow another species with red berries, except that i would like to get the native S scopulina, which my book says grows 1-4m....

[Stephenb]

Blue berries? What species is that Lori?

I don't know off-hand, Lesley... and it's possible I'm not even remembering correctly on that point!...  but I'll pay attention and take photos when we visit there this fall.

Perhaps a Sorbus x Aronia cross (Sorbaronia) - I know the Finns have developed quite a few crosses of Sorbus and various other species with different coloured berries - see, for example, http://www.biotaimi.fi/Pihlaja.pdf (don't worry, Google Translate to the rescue, perhaps..., no, even Google got confused..)

[Ragged Robin]

Some more local Sorbus.
Most still had their labels  
Sorbus 'Joseph Rock'
Sorbus cashmiriana
Sorbus hupehensis
Sorbus aucuparia (funny that the common one, is the worst)

Giles,

Your photos of Sorbus growing near you are wonderful - I love their leaf,flower, berry and Spring and Autumn colours - they really are a tree for all seasons wherever they grow.  I planted a Sorbus cashmiriana here but it has struggled and broke with the weight of snow - it has produced new shoots from the graft but am not sure if it is the cashmiriana or the grafted stock ....anyway am giving it TLC and a chance to grow here in the mountain - from its background I was assured it would survive at this height and extremes....on looking up more in Goggle, after seeing the fabulous white berries in your photo, I was directed to the link below - and another lovely sample!  

http://www.srgc.org.uk/feature/sandynovember2006/content.html

[WimB]

seems the berries are good in Belgium too !

Yes, it may have been possible to squeeze a few more on that terrific Pyracantha, but only a very few!
A grand display and I like the other colours of Pyracantha, too, but  have a really soft spot for Sorbus..... which is just as well since Ian will keep growing them from seed and planting them out in the garden when my back is turned. 

Sorbus maderensis is a seriously endangered Madeiran endemic, is it not? Habitat loss if the problem, I assume. I don't think I've ever seen one.

It's been a good year for berries indeed.

Giles, that Sorbus cashmeriana is really nice

[Giles]

Wim,
I could ask for some seed from that one, if you wanted it.
It didn't have many fruit on it, but I'm sure they could be persuaded to part with a few.
(I'm just wondering if there isn't a 'Magritte' tucked behind that Pyracantha of yours  )
Giles

[Sinchets]

Flowering just now and certainly living up to its name 
Cirsium echinocephalum.

[WimB]

Wim,
I could ask for some seed from that one, if you wanted it.
It didn't have many fruit on it, but I'm sure they could be persuaded to part with a few.
(I'm just wondering if there isn't a 'Magritte' tucked behind that Pyracantha of yours  )
Giles

Hello Giles,

if it is possible to get some seeds, that would be very nice.
(No 'Olympia' behind my Pyracantha,...I've just looked... you never know and a reward of 10% of it's value would be very nice  )

Wim

[Anthony Darby]

Lastly, a picture of Passiflora trifasciata, Euchile citrina, Heliconia bihai and a leaf of an aroid that seems anvil-hammered in copper, Alocasia cuprea.

Have a great day
Michael

Your pic of Heliconia bihai reminded me of one I saw in Trinidad, October 2007. It was the host of an interesting parasite.

[johnw]

The Japanese anemones are flowering now but I have no idea which ones these are. Any suggestions?  Honorine Jobert is tricky here so I wonder if the white is another variety.

johnw

[johnw]

One of our best native shrubs, Viburnum cassinoides.  Blue berries and eventually red autumn foliage, just as you ordered Lesley.

johnw

[Paul T]

Fantastic pics everyone.  Just viewed this topic for the first time.  Some crackers of plants.  Of special mention..... the wonderful carnivorous plants shown part way through.... beautiful.  Anthony, that parasitic plant is quite striking isn't it?  And Michael, as well as a belated "Happy Birthday" from me, my compliments on those fantastic orchids.  The Stanhopeas and Gongoras are just glorious aren't they?  A fav of mine, although very rare for me to flower my S. tigrina (syn S. negroviolacea I think) as I don't have a glasshouse.  It survives remarkably well though, considering.  Some wonderful other orchids you showed too, including that beautiful Dracula, and a fascinating green with dark throat that I don't recognise at all.

Thanks to all for their wonderful pictures. 

[Paddy Tobin]

Great autumn show of berries, love the sorbus displays we have been treated to - many thanks to Giles and Stephen. Great show, many new cultivars.

Paddy