February 2011 - Southern Hemisphere

[Paul T]

Great Clematis everyone.

Marcus,

Are the seedlings of Stargazer stable?  I'm assuming they must be given that seed is pretty much the only easy way to propagate cyclamen to any degree.  Have you had differences in seedlings?  Is that a pure white in the background?  It looks interesting, although I'm sure there are purists all having conniptions as we speak. 

[fermi de Sousa]

I've never seen the blue form "in the flesh". I am led to believe that the one in Australia has more hairy leaves but I can't vouche for this.

Hi Marcus,
the original blue form I had back in the 1990's was a hirsute form and I wondered if it really was C. isophylla but the current form is simply a blue version of the "typical" white one.

Lesley,
"Golden Tiara" is either a hybrid or a selection made by the Teeses in Monbulk, Victoria but I don't know it's heritage.
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Marcus,

Apologies, my blue one is Campanula carpatica, not isophylla.  Very similar in appearance to my white isophylla though, which is why I thought it was an isophylla.  I checked the pot today and found out it's correct species.  Sorry I don't have the blue for you.

[Maggi Young]

I found a rare southern visitor in my garden today.... seemed to be gathering with others of his kind.... wonder if I should be posting this in the Wildlife thread 
.......

I have a suspicion Mr Newall is in trousers Maggi --if so it must be damn cold .........

Cheers Dave.

 Yes, Dave, he was fully covered... it's cold and wet here. He's carrying a tea cup, it's true.....

[Lesley Cox]

Steve in trousers and trainers is unheard of. But of course we don't know what is IN that cup. Tea isn't the only amber liquid.

[fermi de Sousa]

Steve in trousers and trainers is unheard of. But of course we don't know what is IN that cup. Tea isn't the only amber liquid.

I've only met Steve at the NZAGS weekends but it does look "NQR"!
As that's a SRGC mug presumebaly it's a wee dram!
Paul,
that thumping sound you hear is Marcus hitting his head against the wall 
cheers
fermi

[Paul T]

Fermi,

Even more thumping due then (but maybe in a good way?)...... I've just been looking on the web as to the differences between isophylla and carpatica and read the following.....

With proper care all the isophyllas will flower repeatedly (three weeks after the end of the previous flowering period), unlike the plants in the other group, i.e. Campanula carpatica, which will only flower again following cold treatment. Another difference is that C. isophylla is propagated from cuttings, while carpatica is propagated from seed. The type of flower is also different, isophylla has a flatter flower, which is more open and gives a better view of the stamens. Carpatica has a bell shaped flower, which is why the Dutch call it bell flower.

Mine would DEFINITELY be propagated from cuttings, in fact is is stoloniferous and could be easily divided into smaller bits.  The flowers of mine are definitely open bowls, not quite flat but certainly not bell shaped, and you have a great view of the stamens.  So I am assuming therefore that mine is isophylla, or at least a hybrid thereof.  I don't think mine will keep on flowering throughout summer repeatedly though.  So now I am not entirely sure WHAT my blue one is. 

[Lesley Cox]

The better forms of C. carpatica are also propagated from cuttings or small, slightly rooted offsets. Equally, C. isophylla and (the generally similar) C. fragilis, can be propagated from seed. The flowers of carpatica vary tremendously in shape Paul, only some are bell-shaped and not, in my opinion, the better ones. But it is a more compact, "rounded" plant especially in the tight forms like 'Maie Blyth' while isophylla in all its forms is somewhat sprawling and will dangle down the side of a raised bed, to a length of 50cms if really happy. In my experience the white form has green glabrous leaves and stems while the blue has somewhat furred or pubescent leaves and stems. Same applies to doubles of both colours.

[Hillview croconut]

Hi Paul

Yes it is from the Stargazer strain but I don't find it very stable. The flowers remind me of a clutch of little featherless birds all vying to be the one that gets the drop of the worm. Interesting, somewhat alarming but not beautiful.

Gosh this C. Isahella discussion is hotting up. Now Lesley is beguiling me with tales of doubles in both colour forms!!!
Are these in NZ?

I have lots of C. Coptic, different leaves, as Lesley says, different habit, different shaped flower, the former's are flattened star-shaped (hence its common name of Italian Stars) and the latter's are essentially disk-shaped. In mine the former's stigma is entire and the latter's triffid.
C. carpartica is an easy seeder and spreads around by underground stolons. C. Isahella has, as Lesley says, long, twiggy, fragile, tendill-like branches but rare does it root down from these (for me anyway and obviously ditto for Fermi otherwise he would have had more success striking it )
The white form is easily propagated from cuttings in the summer and even from very tiny basal pieces with a bit of root in winter. Its a lovely addition to the rock garden because as Lesley says it sprawls luxuriantly over rocks, boulders, walls and flowers repeated right into late autumn.

I wonder why the white form is the odd one out with the glabrous leaves? And if all the whites are like this?

Cheers, Marcus

[Hillview croconut]

Sorry something has gone awfully wrong with the italics thingy on my last post. I KNOW I am often in a rush and my fingers are flying (at times not very successfully) across the keyboard but that is ridiculous! I hope you catch my drift - " I have lots of C. carpatica" might throw people.

Cheers, Marcus

[fermi de Sousa]

I think "spellcheck" maybe providing some diferent interpretations of what you mean - unless you do have a Campanula "Coptic" (a Greek endemic? )
And again I state that the blue form I have of C. isophylla is not pubescent or hairy!
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

Are these in NZ?

Yes.

[Ray]

A few things flowering here at this time.
Tigridia
Cypella coelestris

Roscoea purpura var procera.
Scilla scilloides

bye Ray

[Paul T]

Ray,

That is one spectacular pink Tigridia!!    Amazing colour!  And that Scilla scilloides is gorgeous as well.

Marcus,

I've emailed you about C. isophylla 'Stella Blue'.  My C. carpatica variety is called 'Deep Blue Pearl' I think, if that helps.  As Lesley says, it is a lovely and compact and rounded mound in the pot, with huge upward facing flowers.

[Hillview croconut]

Hello Everybody,

I have a few more campanula, etc. to post.

The first is "my" C. carpatica, from generations of seedlings around the rock garden.

The next is another "persister" (if there is such a word) that just keeps on hanging on without a jot of help, C. arvatica.

The next is C. cochlearifolia Elizabeth Oliver, its fragile and refined bearing belies its toughness.

Then one I'm not sure of, plucked as seed from the top of the Taygetos Mountains pass when looking for Crocus sieberi ssp nivalis in pine woods, C. spatula?

And finally a lovely, spidery, deliciously maroon erodium, E. sidioides.

Cheers, Marcus

PS Fermi sorry I got the hairiness factor mixed over C. isophylla