Saxifraga 2011

[adrian young]

No its not normal David, callosa would normally flower in May
with long flower stems, the flowering rosettes would then die.
I have seen this happen a couple of times before and it was
put down to a growth mutation.
The other thing that can happen is that the flower growing point
was damaged just before the stem elongated and a secondary
flower growing point took over, this is why the flower stem is
so short.
I would dig the plant up and save any healthy rosettes by turning
them into cuttings.

[David Nicholson]

Many thanks for that Adrian. My plant did indeed flower in May, pic below. I'll take your advice.

[Peter II]

Dear David,

what is the bottom right?

[David Nicholson]

Peter, it is Erodium 'Bishop's Form' and it has spread out a bit since I took the picture above in May.

[Peter II]

aha, thank you.

[David Nicholson]

I should add that it's full name is Erodium x variabile 'Bishop's Form'. Nice little plant that must be easy as I haven't killed it-so far

[katijah2]

I love these plants......but,

...Always a but is'nt there 

After so long, especially if I want to move them they easy fall apart, also if it too wet they do this.

We get a lot of rain in Lancashire, maybe this is the reason.

 

[Lesley Cox]

Katijah, you might want to dig a plant that's fallen apart and have a look among the roots, as falling apart is typical damage caused by vine weevil grubs. I've lost many a Saxifraga from this cause. If you get it early you can make cuttings from the loose bits.

[ChrisB]

Oooh David, your garden is so neat and tidy..... and that's a lovely sax you have there.  Now its on my list...

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Chris, it looks neater than it actually is, I didn't recognise it when I re-visited the picture

If you read the post immediately before the pic you will see I had problems with the plant and it split into several rosettes. I've treated these as cuttings but they don't look too healthy. S callosa var australis is a lovely little plant and did well for me for a couple of years.

[ChrisB]

Hi David,

I've been rooting cuttings of all kinds of saxes in a mix of sand and vermiculite kept damp in a tray within a tray and they have all rooted successfully for me.  I needed to do this to have tiny plants to put in my mini garden.  They are all growing away strongly.  Try it, I'm sure it will work for you...  I haven't been following the thread a lot lately, just happened on that lovely pic of it on the last page.  Must revisit to get the background....

[David Nicholson]

Would somone have a go at an ID for this please. Some years ago I got seed from one or other of the Exchanges of two Silver Sax species. One of them was Saxifraga collosa var australis which I've pictured here before and this was the other one. It's been buried underneath the foliage of Verbasum 'Letititia' and I'd quite forgotten about it. Someone in the household (and it wasn't me!) decided to give 'Letitia' a very severe haircut and I'm afraid the shock was tool great for her and she expired thus revealing this little beauty.

[David Nicholson]

Anyone?

[adrian young]

Anyone speaking
Are you sure its a Silver sax?
It could be an Engleria sp. or cultivar.
If it is a silver it would be a longifolia hybrid, need to see it flower.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks for responding Adrian. The label is long gone but I was fairly certain I had seed of two Silvers. Still, as you suggest I'll post a pic when it flowers.