August 2011 in the Northern Hemisphere

[Lesley Cox]

They're lovely Shelagh. I'm very fond of intaminatum.

[meanie]

One of the most perfect blooms around - Plumbago capensis!
Grown from seed which was sown in January.

[Roma]

I have three Codonopsis flowering just now.
Codonopsis grey-wilsonii
1 this came in a pot of Corydalis
2 one I've had a long time growing outside
3 the same one growing in the greenhouse
Codonopsis grey-wilsoni 'Himal Snow'
Codonopsis vinciflora

[meanie]

They're lovely Roma - I tried to grow from seed, but they came to nothing.

[Roma]

I don't think I've tried this three from seed.  We had them at the Cruickshank Garden and when grown in a pot the original tuber grows bigger but also produces lots of smaller ones a bit like a potato so there were always plenty to spare at repotting time.  I wanted ovata for a long time and eventually did get a seedling of the true plant.  Lots of Codonopsis seed produces Codonopsis clematidea, regardless of the name on the label and it can become a bit of a weed.

[meanie]

Sorry, I should have said it was C.forrestii.

[angie]

Hi Roma

Your Codonopsis are lovely. Many many years ago I bought my first plant. I remember when it came in the post it was the size of a pea. I thought to myself well is that it but that tiny tuber has given me loads. It's such a lovely flower. I put it all over the garden to grow through shrubs, but have to be careful that I don't break the fragile stem when it first comes out of the ground.
I think it is a wonderful plant, worth having.

Angie

[Lesley Cox]

One of the most perfect blooms around - Plumbago capensis!
Grown from seed which was sown in January.

That's one for the "Arty Images" thread Meanie.

[Lesley Cox]

Roma, your pictures suggest that C. grey-wilsonii varies quite a lot. As I understand it, but could well be wrong, grey-wilsonii is what I used to grow as C. convolvulacea, with a red band in the throat? Yes? No?

[meanie]

One of the most perfect blooms around - Plumbago capensis!
Grown from seed which was sown in January.

That's one for the "Arty Images" thread Meanie.

I had no idea there was one - you've unleashed the beast in me now!

[Lesley Cox]

That's one for the "Arty Images" thread Meanie.
[/quote]

I had no idea there was one - you've unleashed the beast in me now!
[/quote]

We need the occasional beast on the Forum Meanie.  

[meanie]

I'm not that bad really!

[Roma]

Yes Lesley, Codonopsis grey-wilsonii used to be convolvulaceae then briefly nepalensis.  The 2nd one is nearest to the true colour.  I don't know why the one in the greenhouse does not show the red ring as I believe the one in the garden is the same one from used compost.  It is possible it is a seedling.

As Angela says it is very easy to break off the new shoots when weeding in the garden, but it is lovely growing up through shrubs and dwarf rhododendrons.   

[Paul T]

Codonopsis are just amazing, or at least from the pics I've seen.  So variable, but all beautiful.  Not something I've ever seen in Australia.  Are all climbers/scramblers, or is it a genus that has a variety of types?  Sorry if I've asked this before, but if so I cannot remember the answer. 

Thanks for the pics Roma.

[Hoy]

Autumn. Ripe berries of the sloe, Prunus spinosa.