Eranthis 2010

[chris]

While we have to wait for better weather to see our winter aconite in full bloom, I have here a few Eranthis pinnatifida in the alpine greenhouse



 edit by maggi: click on the photos to enlarge them...

[Maggi Young]

Eranthis pinnatifida is one of the prettiest flowers, isn't it?
I wonder if it grows robustly in Japan, or if it always makes rather small plants ?

[maggiepie]

Oh, these are lovely, are they difficult to grow?

[annew]

Gorgeous colour arrangement.

[Rodger Whitlock]

Oh, these are lovely, are they difficult to grow?

In a word, yes. Forms are gradually coming into cultivation that are less difficult, but it's not an easy plant. Many years ago when he was attending our Winter Study Weekend here, Don Elick told me that even in Japan, wild collected plants of Eranthis pinnatifida rarely survive for very long.

My own opinion is that the flowers are too small to make it worth much trouble. "Squinny" is perhaps the bon mot.

[chris]

sorry Rodger I cant agree with you, in my opinion it is a verry easy plant, I put them in a small pot with good drainage. I let them outside, they need at least one month freezing temperatures,we had a cold winter and I took the plants 3 weeks ago in the cold greenhouse and as you see they grow and flower well. After flowering they go outside and I forget them for the rest of the year, the pots standing with other pots in shade and in summer if it isnt raining in 14 days than I put on the sprinkler for an hour, if somebody is intrested: I will pollinate the flowers and hope to have some seeds, if anybody want to try it just let me now

[Gail]

I think they are gorgeous (Squinny indeed Rodger!) If you do get some seed Chris I'd love some (possible swap for seed from my Hepatica maxima forms??)

[Maggi Young]

While the flowers are not large, they are very beautiful.... I can promise that a photo of a single flower, shown on a twelve foot screen will bring a chorus of oohs and aahs from an audience!

[David Nicholson]

Couple of Eranthis pics here from a garden visit we made today. More pics later this evening in the Visits thread- Visit to Forde Abbey

[Lesley Cox]

I love the pictures of E. pinnatifida and think the flowers are superb. Maybe they are as close to Hegemone whatsit as Ulla (on another thread) is likely to get.

[mark smyth]

wolf whistle at Lesley's new avatar

[Lesley Cox]

wolf whistle at Lesley's new avatar

Nothing unseemly please Mark. You can blame the other Mark for the avatar though he was provoked.

[chris]

today the blue anthers opens and I have pollen to pollinate my flowers.
I have pollinate also a yellow one with the pollen of Erantis pinnatifolia and pollen from the yellow on E.pinn., I wonder if somebody dit that before?

[fleurbleue]

Chris, please tell us about your pollinating experiences later

[Paul T]

I don't care if others may call the white "squinny"  , I still think it looks lovely.  I hope my seeds (from a generous SRGC member of the forum) germinate happily for me this coming winter/spring. 

Good luck with the cross, Chris.