Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Margaret on May 14, 2013, 12:26:08 AM
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My Ranunculus gramineus Moonlight (pale yellow) has died this winter and I'd love to replace it but can't find a source. Does anyone know who sells it?
Many thanks.
Margaret
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Its been on my wants list for a few years.
My only plant of gramineus has a white flower this year
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You may have tried this yourself, but a Google search for "Ranunculus gramineus Moonlight" (using quotation marks to specify the exact phrase) reveals only this thread. So, whilst it may exist in gardens and nurseries, it does not exist on the Internet.
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I've just done the search in inverted commas, and google found only our SRGC conversation in 0.09 seconds!! I didn't realise I was growing a rare plant. :(
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Unfortunately it would seem so. Is 'Moonlight' a pale form of the normal Ranunculus gramineus?
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Yes, Alan. It is a soft pale yellow and rather beautiful. I'm very cross with myself for not taking better care of it. It appeared so reliably every spring that I stopped giving it TLC. :'(
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Tim Ingram has written of
Ranunculus x arendsii 'Moonlight' (a cross between amplexicaulis and gramineus 'Pardal' made at Washfield Nursery)
R. gramineus 'Pardal' may well be available from Cotswold Garden Flowers , while Washfield seemed to be the best source for this 'Moonlight' [/size]
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My experience of Cotswold Garden Flowers is that their online catalogue features many plants that they no longer stock, possibly never sold, and never intend to stock again. Some of these appear to have gone on the compost heap - so it's no good if you would have given that plant a loving home in your garden.
Thus their catalogue is a useful repository of information but also a frustrating one, because it includes plants that no longer exist.
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Susan Band used to list it
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Maggi's quote from Tim Ingram comes from here http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/inthegarden/Plants+at+Copton+Ash+in+Kent/537/ (http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/discussion/inthegarden/Plants+at+Copton+Ash+in+Kent/537/) (Contribution from Tim Ingram 23 May 2011, 13:52). He says he got 'Moonlight' from Jennie Maillard, details here http://www.uuplants.co.uk/ (http://www.uuplants.co.uk/)
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Missing the gramineus off gives this picture as aresult.
http://www.diomedia.com/public/;jsessionid=E996A91868F6E64D2201247D34C646A4.worker2en/5915518/imageDetails.html (http://www.diomedia.com/public/;jsessionid=E996A91868F6E64D2201247D34C646A4.worker2en/5915518/imageDetails.html)
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Thank you for your help everyone.
Alan you solved the problem. Jennie Maillard has one plant left which she has agreed (rather reluctantly) to hold for me. She calls it Ranunculus x arendesii Moonlight. I hope it is the same as my original plant which was labelled gramineus. Anyway I'm committed to buy it now. Let's hope it sets seed!
Margaret
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Anyone interested in finding this plant can also try Wisley sales and www.elworthy-cottage.co.uk (http://www.elworthy-cottage.co.uk)
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I bought Ranunculus x arendsii (without a cultivar name ) from Susan Band in 2008. I have two plants now still in pots. The local rabbits have a liking for ranunculaceae so I am reluctant to plant them out.
Ranunculus x arendsii with its parents Ranunculus gramineus and Ranunculus amplexicaulis
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That is a very useful photogragh, Roma. Thank you. Your R arendsii is very similar but maybe a bit taller than my now deceased plant.
Margaret
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Hi,
The Ranunculus X arendsii form I have is the cross made by Don Stead not the original cross made by Mr Arendsii. This is the cross which Margaret and Henry Taylor distributed a lot in Scotland. Unfortunately I over sold it and now only have a small plant.
There is still a nursery in Germany (I think) which is run by the daughter of Arendsii who bred a lot of different plants. She is now looking for the cross back again.
Perhaps the one you had was either the original cross or one done by someone else and given a name.
I have found R. gramineus always to look consistent but R. amplexicaulis can vary quite a lot in flower size and some seedlings having a pink tinge.
Maybe someone with spare time can try the cross again
Susan
PS. it is propagated by division and root/axil cuttings
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I've done the cross.
What's a root axil/cutting?
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hi mark,
What I meant was a root or axil cutting.
If the plant is growing well sometimes mini plants appear on the stems where the leaves join, late on in the season. The stem can then be cut at these points and then rooted.
In the other method roots will sprout if broken off the plant accidently when trying to divide the plants.
Susan
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Hi Susan
Thank you for the background information. I still have the typed label for my dead plant.
It's called R. gramineus 'Moonlight' A clump-forming perennial with narrow glaucous green basal leaves. Stems of pale yellow flowers from spring to early summer.
My plant never got taller than 100mm but I now realise that I wasn't giving it ideal conditions. It will be interesting to compare my new plant, Ranunculus x arendesii Moonlight from Jennie Maillard when I collect it.
Margaret
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Just had a look at the German nursery dedicated to Georg Arends (1863-1952) He hybridised 350 different perennials.
Here is a link to the nursery http://www.arends-maubach.de/Die-Gaertnerei.77.0.html (http://www.arends-maubach.de/Die-Gaertnerei.77.0.html)
Susan
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Thank you, Susan. The nursery sells a lot of plants but not, as far as I could see, any x arendesii crosses. Maybe they had sold out or they keep them for nursery visitors.
Margaret
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I saw a Ranunculus arendsii Moonlight on the Kevock Nursery stand at the Chelsea Show today. I've tried to attach a photo but not sure whether it will work because this is my first post with a picture. I could ask hubby for help but this always ends up with a lecture about the importance of making notes - not my strong point!
The Kevock display was excellent. I hope they get a Gold.
Margaret
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You've cracked the photo posting yourself, Margaret., well done!
Kevock's bulb list is out now, too :
http://www.kevockgarden.co.uk/ (http://www.kevockgarden.co.uk/) and they will be very busy at Chelsea - we wish them every success with their Chelsea exhibit- good to hear you thought their display was looking good.
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Hi
going through last years acquisitions I have ranunculus arendsii 'Moonlight', what are the best growing conditions for it? research implies dry, but well drained? Sun or shade or what? Any tips would be appreciated
Thanks
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I think a sunny spot is fine - even for your locale, Helen. It seems able to cope with full sun in many places. Have a feeling ours was lost by being overshadowed by other plants. Must look out for it again.