| Author |
Message |
Ian Minty
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 15, 2003 - 10:27 pm: | |
I purchased one of these plants today and I am looking to find out some more information on it.
The plant is leafless and has beautiful black/grey striped stems and the nursery man said that it had purple flowers. Any info would be appreciated as a search on the web proved fruitless.
Thanks, Ian. |
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 7:08 pm: | |
Hello, Ian, Welcome to the Forum. There are about 40 species of Carmichaelia, all but one from New Zealand. Several species are suitable for the rock garden, raised bed or alpine house. I would think you would have no problems with hardiness in your part of northern Scotland. I've found that it is known as the "butterfly broom" and is variously listed as being in the Leguminosae section either(papilionaceae)or (fabaceae) !! Great chaps these taxonimists! Seems that the best way to tell different species is by the seeds, shape and colour!! You may have to wait a bit! the plants come from a stout rootstock with prostrate branches that spread out, sending up little semi-erect, flattened leafless stems. the pea flowers are usually around 5mm. They can be very floriferous. They are best grown in a sheltered sunny spot in well-drained, neutral to acid soil.It seems they resent root disturbance.
Well,that's about as much as I know, does that help?
Best wishes,
Maggi in Aberdeen
|
Ian Minty
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 16, 2003 - 10:23 pm: | |
Thanks Maggi, I suppose I'll have to wait till it sets seed before I find out which species it is.
I was hoping to find out the species so that I knew roughly the overall height it will grow to, so that I don't have to move it, as it resents root disturbance.
I still reckon I'll plant it quite near the front so I can admire the beautiful stems.
Cheers, Ian fae Huntly.
See you at the Aberdeen show.
|
Margaret Young (Myoung)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2003 - 6:40 pm: | |
Hi, Ian, and greetings to Mrs Minty and the little Minties...we look forward to welcoming you to the Aberdeenshire show on 17th May! (Just thought I'd take the chance of a small advert forthe show, there!)
I think that the tallest Carmichaelia - suitable for the rock garden!!- is about 6 inches, circa 15 cms, high and they don't spread much beyond 1foot,30cms. Of course, there are species that will reach 4 to 10 feet, it seems, so I just hope you haven.t got one of those!!
Since they are tap-rooted, you better take a cutting or two when it gets going, in case you might not be pleased with the position of it!
Cheers, Maggi |
|
Plant Identification Questions and Answers