Hemiphragma heterophyllum ; Cultivation advice?

[arisaema]

Is that what this little thing is? Pic from around Kangding, 4000m

Also, anyone know if Hemiphragma is difficult (or perhaps weedy?) in cultivation? I have a ton of seedlings popping up.

[arisaema]

Found this picture, so it has to be that species.

[TheOnionMan]

Had to look that one up, to find out what it is,... it's a scroph!  In this Flora of China link there are some good photo links... it also describes three varieties of your plant.  It's a curious little plant, isn't it?

http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200020668

[Maggi Young]

I was intrigued by the smart red fruits that are shown in the picture from the first link.....http://www.daikoku-sama.com/rhodo/photo/96ne07-005.jpg

 Great contrast to the pink flowers.

[arisaema]

It is indeed a curious little thing, thought it was an Androsace when I photographed it, didn't connect it to the red-berried plant with lush green leaves I had ordered seeds of... I'm also not sure if I should fear it becoming a weed (the seedlings seem a bit too vigorous - and they germinated like cress), or if I should expect it to croak from too much winter wet?

[Maggi Young]

Ah, if only some of those plants which germinate well WOULD become a pest!! So many start that way and then die so fast you haven't time to put your black hat on!

  I don't think they'll be a problem.......  if they do, then I never said this!

[Lesley Cox]

Are you saying that the pink flowers are the Hemiphrapma? I think they're two different things. It's a long time since I grew Hemiphragma heterophylla but I recall it as having very tiny, insignicant flowers, almost invisible in fact and the plant was grown for its fruit. I found it less than hardy and I think it was lost to frost eventually. It was probably 30 years ago though so memory could be at fault.

[arisaema]

Lesley;

The flowers are really tiny and insignificant, probably no more than 3-4mm wide... I think hardiness should be OK as the Chinese plants grow well above 4000m, but it apparently also occurs in India, Nepal, Indonesia and the Phillippines.

Did you get the needle-like leaves in winter, or did it stay green?

[Lesley Cox]

Mine stayed quite green. I never saw anything like your first picture. It is likely, because of the hardiness issue that mine - what was in NZ at that time - was an Indian or Indonesian collection, goodness knows where or who from. Perhaps the flowers from countries other than China are variably coloured. I'm sure mine were greeny/white rather than pink. Maybe the fruit were orangey too as I remember at one time thinking it was a form of Nertera depressa.