Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Specific Families and Genera => Rhododendron and other Ericaceae => Topic started by: johnw on September 04, 2008, 05:52:12 PM

Title: Vaccinium species
Post by: johnw on September 04, 2008, 05:52:12 PM: On Tuesday I visited the Vaccinium collection at the Irving Centre of Acadia University with Barry Starling. While he and the curator chatted away I took some pictures which may be of interest and missed the names. The first is V. hirsutum and the fruit on it was very tasty; this plant was in the ground as it is thoroughly hardy. The rest are tropical.

johnw
Title: Re: Vaccinium species
Post by: johnw on September 04, 2008, 05:54:13 PM: The white one was particularly interesting. I believe the curator of the collection said the seeds were naked. The fruit tasted much like lychees and the biggest ripe ones I'm afraid we ate - they were 1.5"-2" in diameter.

johnw
Title: Re: Vaccinium species
Post by: Maggi Young on September 04, 2008, 08:43:56 PM: These are VERY interesting, John, many thanks for showing some quite unknown types 8)
Title: Re: Vaccinium species
Post by: Lesley Cox on September 04, 2008, 10:31:12 PM: I hope you saved enough for some seed John ;D

I've always had a yen for V. praestans with its beautiful big red fruit. Does anyone grow it? It was in a seedlist 3 or 4 years ago and I received a few seeds before I was in the habit of consulting the Bio Index, but MAF did the dirty and removed it.
Title: Re: Vaccinium species
Post by: johnw on September 04, 2008, 11:22:38 PM: Quote from: Lesley Cox on September 04, 2008, 10:31:12 PM

I've always had a yen for V. praestans with its beautiful big red fruit. Does anyone grow it? It was in a seedlist 3 or 4 years ago and I received a few seeds before I was in the habit of consulting the Bio Index, but MAF did the dirty and removed it.

Leslie -

I got seed of V. hirsutum and if you want some I can send it.

I got V. praestans from Jim Sutherland at Ardfearn in 2000. It was in a 2" pot and has gone beserk in the garden here, it has invaded the peat walls, through the Cassiopes and dwarf rhododendrons and is now tackling the lawn. I got it for its' blazing autumn foliage but it doesn't colour up at all that well here and we have incredible fall foliage here. I think if it were in a lean gravelly mix it would colour well in full sun.

It has berries ripe now and has decided it is going to set a second crop. Seed if you like.

I got it from the SRGC seedex - SRGC94-3974 as well, only one survived.

johnw
Title: Re: Vaccinium species
Post by: Lesley Cox on September 05, 2008, 01:20:47 AM: No thanks John. If it spreads so rampantly, I'd better not, besides, as I mentioned it's not on the Bio Index.