We hope you have enjoyed the SRGC Forum. You can make a Paypal donation to the SRGC by clicking the above button

Author Topic: Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) forms  (Read 1272 times)

Alan_b

  • 'finder of the light'
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3976
  • Country: england
Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) forms
« on: November 09, 2013, 08:58:59 AM »
The Greater Celandine is one of those wild flowers that self-seeds in my garden and is very tolerant of the dry summer conditions.  So I am interested in adding to the variety with some unusual forms of this plant.

 Last year I scattered three packets of seeds of the "Laciniatum' form (sometimes called "Bowles' Variety") on my soil on some wet days in spring.  These were bought from a company called "Plant World" and so far nothing has germinated.  I've just ordered some more seeds from "Chiltern Seeds" to make a second attempt.  In the past I have also tried the flore pleno form (which I see elsewhere quite often) with zero success.

Also listed by the RHS but unavailable for some years are "Chedglow" and "Laciniatum flore pleno".  Chelidonium majus is short-lived and would not appear amenable to splitting so I presume all these are strains which come true from seed.

I would be interested to know if anybody grows any of these varieties and can tell me about them or has any tips or tricks for growing them from seed.  Maybe, for example, the seeds need to over-winter before they will germinate?     
« Last Edit: November 09, 2013, 09:02:00 AM by Alan_b »
Almost in Scotland.

mark smyth

  • Hopeless Galanthophile
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 15254
  • Country: gb
Re: Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) forms
« Reply #1 on: November 09, 2013, 11:24:36 AM »
Chedglow is a R. ficaria cultivar
Antrim, Northern Ireland Z8
www.snowdropinfo.com / www.marksgardenplants.com / www.saveourswifts.co.uk

When the swifts arrive empty the green house

All photos taken with a Canon 900T and 230

PeterT

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1369
  • Country: gb
Re: Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) forms
« Reply #2 on: November 09, 2013, 06:05:16 PM »
i doubt that the seed stores well. Best way to start such weeds is to beg a seedling and allow it to self seed. Ask me in march I might be able to send you the double form.
living near Stranraer, Scotland. Gardening in the West of Scotland.

Alan_b

  • 'finder of the light'
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3976
  • Country: england
Re: Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) forms
« Reply #3 on: November 09, 2013, 09:51:07 PM »
Thanks, Mark, but according to the RHS http://apps.rhs.org.uk/horticulturaldatabase/hortdatabase.asp?ID=202315

Quote
Chelidonium majus 'Chedglow' (v)
an accepted name in the RHS Horticultural Database
There is a Standard Specimen for this plant
so perhaps there is a Greater 'Chedglow' and a Lesser 'Chedglow'?  According to this link http://www.johnjearrard.co.uk/plants/ranunculusficaria/ranunculusficariachedglow/species.html the Lesser 'Chedglow' is named after Chedglow in Wiltshire.

There is a hint here http://plants.jstor.org/specimen/wsy0045289?history=true that Chelidonium majus 'Chedglow' may tend to have variegated leaves but I do not have access to the image on that web site.  It seems to be an obscure and possibly extinct cultivar.

And thanks, Peter.  Some plants do seen to self-seed readily enough yet are reluctant to germinate otherwise.
Almost in Scotland.

 


Scottish Rock Garden Club is a Charity registered with Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR): SC000942
SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal