Seeking Viola 'Jackanapes'

[mairead]

I am looking for a root of Viola 'Jackanapes', and could exchange roots of small alpines such as variegated arabis or pinks, Viola 'Molly Sanderson' or small phloxes. If anyone could help, would you contact me at elder@iol.ie please

[Maggi Young]

Hello Mairead, how are you?
I no longer have 'Jackanapes'... but I hope some other Forumist will be able to help you.
M

[Lesley Cox]

I too am looking for V. 'Jackanapes' though only from a NZ source so if someone out there has it I would be very happy to buy or exchange for something good. Although it was another nursery who imported it originally, it was I who CAUSED it to be imported in 1981 and John Bond of the Saville Gardens at that time made plants available through Gordon Collier. It was imported and quarantined by Peak Perennials, sadly no longer in existence as they introduced marvellous plants in their time.

I fell in love with it at Sissinghurst and have always loved its cheerful face but a few drought summers and it joined quite a long list of plants I have lost in recent years.

[PeterT]

Does Jackanapes not come true from seed then?

I too am looking for V. 'Jackanapes' though only from a NZ source so if someone out there has it I would be very happy to buy or exchange for something good.

[Lesley Cox]

Peter, 'Jackanapes,' the true plant, is sterile.

[PeterT]

Why? what is it botanically speaking?

[Lesley Cox]

I believe it turned up very many years ago in the garden of the late Marjory Fish and she named it for her pet monkey. It must be a hybrid of some sort but of what? I've never seen a reference to its possible parentage. At one stage it was thought to be lost and then was found again somewhere and propagated. It was one of those plants which the NCCPG (?) got all excited about when it was rediscovered.

Sorry if I have the initials wrong. I mean the people who work to conserve plants and gardens and get their acronym always mixed up with the American one which means something to do with the Advancement of Coloured Peoples.

[David Nicholson]

You can rest easy now Lesley it's got a new name "Plant Heritage"

The story is also attributable to Gertrude Jekyll
http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/heartsease/nvps/jaknape.htm

[Lesley Cox]

Thanks David, both for the "Plant Heritage" - so much easier to remember than the other and for correcting me re the original source. I should have known that and probably did at one time before my brain started to decay. As you'll see from the pictures, it really is a delightful plant and I really miss having it. The scent was delicious too. I have some nice photos myself but pre digital days.

[mairead]

Hi Maggi and all!  I've just come across a nursery in the UK listing this plant.  I don't know if I'm allowed say its name here...but if anyone who wants to write to me I can let you have the name...

[Maggi Young]

No problem to mention the nursery 

[Lesley Cox]

Yes, please do but unfortunately we can't import plants to New Zealand.

[mairead]

The nursery is Bouts Cottage Nursery in Shropshire, and here is the link to their lovely catalogue:

http://www.boutsviolas.co.uk/catalogue8.htm

There are some beauties there.

[Maggi Young]

There certainly are.... I have a dear friend who is very keen on violas but I think there may be quite a few there that she does not have... I'll have to let her see this list!

[Giles]

Elizabeth MacGregor is very good for violas: http://www.elizabethmacgregornursery.co.uk/shop/index.php?page=1
(I was reminded that I had been a customer of theirs for 20 yrs - and have always had excellent service)
She doesn't have 'Jackanapes' though (named after Gertrude Jekyll's monkey).