Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Plants Wanted Or For Exchange => Topic started by: KentGardener on June 24, 2008, 03:44:07 PM
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Hi All
just thought I would have a moan and get this off my chest!
About 10 years ago my aunt gave me some Dierama seedlings - very nice but a bit too pink for me (I am not very keen on pink flowers in the garden). I have searched ever since for some of the darker flowered ones. 2 years ago I actually found 'a small nursery based in Lancashire in the North-west of the UK' selling Dierama 'Black Bird' and immediately ordered it.
As is to be expected with Dierama it sulked for the first year and now two years later I have been expectantly watching the very first flower spike develop over the last couple of weeks. Imagine my bitter disappointment when I got home from work today to find another BL**DY pink flower!!! AAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!
My Dierama Drama!
[attachthumb = 1]
If anyone out there in SRGC land has a nice dark flowered form and would be willing to send me an offset I would be eternally grateful..
regards
John
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Oh, dear, poor John! Just been seeing the pix of assorted Dierama in "THe Garden" magazine and spotted the rather luscious Black Bird there...... very nice indeed..... can't say I have ever seen this plant in anyone's garden , though! ::)
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Hi John,
I bought seeds from dierama "blackbird" from chiltern last year. I still haven't got any flowers (probably next year). If it is blackbird I'll let you know and I'll send you an offset but you'll have to wait untill I'm sure it's Blackbird.
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Maggi, 'Blackbird' is in the garden of your own Anne and Bill, right here in Dunedin. It was flowering when Ian was here.
John, I have 'Blackbird,' just a single bulb with a few small offsets, but I did get seed this autumn and haven't done anything with it yet. Would you like to try it from seed? At least some may come true, maybe even darker.
If so, let me have your postal address in a PM.
Lesley
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I thought 'Blackbird' was lost?
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I have a dark purple type, but no idea of name. I get seed of it usually, in fact I probably have some seed from it from previous years if you're interested? Its a south african plant so the seed probably lasts for ever, so there shouldn't be any aging problems. ;) I can dig up a pic of it if you're interested in seeing it?
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Maggi, 'Blackbird' is in the garden of your own Ann and Bill, right here in Dunedin. It was flowering when Ian was here.
Lesley
Well, blow me down with a feather! It seems that good taste runs in the family!
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The article in the Garden magazine says seed may not come true with the same, dark flowers though.... and it takes 3-5 years to discover whether you have the plant you wanted....
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Hi All
thank you to Lesley and Paul for the offer of seed - I am tempted.... but think I would be most happy to find someone who could let me have a tiny bulb from a known dark flowered form. My little garden already has too many pots in it - and to grow the seedlings on for the next two or three years to hopefully find something that is not PINK would not be practical. (Once I win the lottery and buy somewhere with a couple of acres I shall give the seed idea a go).
Fingers crossed there is someone out there with a nice dark flowered form willing to send me a little bulb? Or maybe someone could suggest a good nursery that will sell me one that is a true dark form (and not another pink, listed as Blackbird, like I got from a certain nursery with its very own thread on this section of the forum!)
Please ;D
John
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John,
maybe this is a good site for you (they have a very dark form called 'Merlin')
http://www.firtreespelargoniums.co.uk/Dierama.htm
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John,
I think that many Dierama are grown from seed, because that is easy for
the producer, and profitable too because he can sell a young plant for a
good price.
Therefore it's always a surprise what is coming out of the plant you acquired.
Here is a picture of D. igneum (bought as that), wich is described as pink or pale brick pink .
When I see my plant I don't complain. :D
I can only advise to buy seedling plants in flower at specialist nurseries, which are at least mature
and maybe a bit more expensive.
I did google a bit and saw that there are several nurseries in Southern England
which have more than one Dierama.
Dierama igneum June 2008
Dierama igneum
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Yes, nice D. igneum colour, Luit.
I do like the colour of 'Merlin', too.... can anyone who has bought from this nursery recommend it?
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I think Mark has recommended Fir Trees Pelagorniums before ???
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Thanks, David, I hadn't "registered" that, since it was likely about pelargoniums.....and I am not looking for any of those :-X
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I thought 'Blackbird' was lost?
Perhaps it flew south for the winter Mark and liked the climate so decided to stay :)
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Fir Tree Pelargoniums specialise in Dierama,(in addition to pelargoniums).
I've had stuff from them before without any problems.
They will be at the Hampton Court Show - so you could ask them to bring plants for you.
Giles
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John,
I can send you some corms if you want to try shifting them over hemisphere. The clump of my purple one is around a foot across at the base, so there should be plenty in there to spare some. I'd need to lift out a reasonable clump as they really do not like to be stripped down to just one or two.... they can sulk for quite a while if done that way. I know the UK isn't too stressed where bulbs are concerned quarantine-wise, but what about something like that, which is going to contact leaf material etc?
I'm at work now so can't post a pic, but I can do so this evening if you're wanting to see it. Quite happy to send you some of the plant itself, but figure you may want to verify from the picture that it isn't just another pink. ;) ;D
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Hi All
thank you so much for all the helpful suggestions. Can anyone spot an email address on the Fir Trees website? I have been looking and looking but can't see one.
Paul - if you could post a picture that would be great - I shall give it marks on it degree of pinkness!... :D I am used to them sulking for a while as I have always only ever started with single bulbs on the 3 occasions that I have grown them to Pink flowering size.
regards
John
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The email address (http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantfinder/Nurseryfinder3.asp?ID=2130&so=pf) :)
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John,
I think this pic shows the fresher flower as pinker than it really is. The older flower is fairly accurate I think, but don't have them outside to check at the moment or anything (they flower here around December/January). Given I don't think it is quite right, I'm not sure how much use it is to you for judging colour. As to others..... I have white, pink, "red" and this purple, as well as a smaller pink type.
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Me trying to save money still....... (and a bit fed up after growing on yet another seed raised one that is PINK!). I'm still very much on the look out for a confirmed DARK flower.....
Can anyone spare a bulb?......... :-\ ;) please... pretty please ;D please please please please please
Jx
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John
is 'Merlin' dark enough because if so I can spare a bulb.It has flowered and is correct
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Hi John,
Is this what you are looking for?
I could collect seed or let you have a corm later in the season.
Merlin
Graham
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Ooh, Merlin really is magical, isn't it? Dramatic coloring! What sort of hardiness can one expect with Dierema?
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Ooh, Merlin really is magical, isn't it? Dramatic coloring! What sort of hardiness can one expect with Dierema?
Hi Mark,
We had a really harsh winter this year (well harsh for Edinburgh). Temperatures down to -13C for a few weeks. Solid ground.
Mine are in an exposed site in my garden.
There are others in gardens in the area that were not affected either.
Hope this helps.
Graham
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I don't think there is much doubt that the Dieramas are pretty tough as regards withstanding the cold but they can be pretty fussy, wanting about a free-draining soil and hating to be too dry in summer - you'd have a problem with that last requirement, I fear, McMark.
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I don't think there is much doubt that the Dieramas are pretty tough as regards withstanding the cold but they can be pretty fussy, wanting about a free-draining soil and hating to be too dry in summer - you'd have a problem with that last requirement, I fear, McMark.
Possibly so Maggi, but then again one sometimes gets lucky. I just posted about a moisture loving plant, Gentiana clausa alba, that hasn't batted an eye at the heat and drought this year. http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=5964.msg164868#msg164868
It would be worth giving these a try at least, I love the nodding form on these lovelies (even the pink ones :D).
Luit's small red-flowered Dierama igneum is to die for... looks like Allium narcissiflorum hallucinating.
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I tried a few Dieramas in the past but lost them all.
not for the cold in winter but I think it is too wet in winter in my ,sandy,soil. :'( they are so beautiful
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Yes, McMark.... it might well be worth a try.
They do take time to establish but I think it is worth the wait... they look so lovely , especially near water.
Loes, your experience bears out my thoughts on the problem of too much water in the soil, especially in winter.
I've no space for them here ( the Bulb Despot tells me! :-X ) :'(
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Ooh, Merlin really is magical, isn't it? Dramatic coloring! What sort of hardiness can one expect with Dierema?
Hi Mark,
We had a really harsh winter this year (well harsh for Edinburgh). Temperatures down to -13C for a few weeks. Solid ground.
Mine are in an exposed site in my garden.
There are others in gardens in the area that were not affected either.
Hope this helps.
Graham
We only got to about -7 but my dierama's were decimated,large clumps were left with just a few shoots but are recovering. It is very wet here.
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The tall Dieramas, like in Grajham's picture, will grow in water, say at the edge of a pond with a muddy bottom. Not so sure about the smaller species though.
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I still haven't got any flowers (probably next year).
More Grrrrr's. I've had tubs of Dieramas for 18 years and never seen a single flower.
johnw
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A bulb of Merlin would be wonderful. :P 8)
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John i have seedlings of Dierama cosmos that are in there third year you are welcome to a couple of plants when they flower i say flower because i don't wont to give you yet another pink lol.Cosmos is a good dark one.
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Thanks for the replies everyone - various PM's have been fired off and I think SRGC has rescued me from my 'Dierama Drama' :)
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I am now the proud owner of some Merlin bulbs (corms?) after receiving a parcel from a generous SRGC member. Thank you to everyone who offered to help.
My Dierama Drama is at last over ;D
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Phew ;)
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My Dierama Drama is at last over ;D
Maybe next it will be a Lack of Lachenalia??
;D
cheers
fermi
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anyone familiar with dierama mossii?
this one should be happy with a little moisture,I read
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Hi John,
I think I recognise the nursery you speak of - if it is the one I have in mind, it closed down in 2007 or so....I bought a lot of stuff there, some wrongly named and tiny but other really top notch rare stuff, so you never really knew...
If you are still without a dark Dierama, I suggest you email Tomorrow's Plants (my Dad's outfit!) as they grow a lot of these, even if they're not in the catalogue currently, possibly including Blackbird.
Alex
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Hi Alex
Many thanks for that.
I hadn't thought of trying with Mike. I visited your dad's place a few years ago and came away with some lovely variegated Clivia and some snowdrop bulbs that are all doing great here.
I now have a dark Dierama that was sent to me by a member of SRGC.
Regards,
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Maggi thanks for the link, Derek was wandering what to get for my birthday, now I can tell him.
Angie :)
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I was just having a browse in the Edrom lists and I see they have 'Blackbird' and D. mossii and I was interested in this one Dierama reynoldsii that I didn't know....
http://www.edrom-nurseries.co.uk/shop/pc/Dierama-reynoldsii-197p8787.htm
The photo is a little distracting with the red background but when enlarged we see a rather understated, elegantly dark flower...... :)
But enough of this Dierama distraction.... back to the Edrom list.... they have special offers!!!
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I was just having a browse in the Edrom lists and I see they have 'Blackbird' and D. mossii and I was interested in this one Dierama reynoldsii that I didn't know....
http://www.edrom-nurseries.co.uk/shop/pc/Dierama-reynoldsii-197p8787.htm
The photo is a little distracting with the red background but when enlarged we see a rather understated, elegantly dark flower...... :)
But enough of this Dierama distraction.... back to the Edrom list.... they have special offers!!!
There is something about these plants that speaks to me, that D. reynoldsii is just such an example, for all intents and purposes they look like a tall grass species, even in flower until one reaches the apical points of the inflorescences. Special plants indeed, must look into finding some hardy ones here... I know what I'll be looking for in this year's seed exchanges.
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I don't spend too much time looking at nursery lists because I know I won't be spending money but there are somer real deals at Edrom at the miniute.... I thought of you when I saw Epimedium sempervirens Creamsickle on offer at £14 reduced from £50, McMark!! :o
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I don't spend too much time looking at nursery lists because I know I won't be spending money but there are somer real deals at Edrom at the miniute.... I thought of you when I saw Epimedium sempervirens Creamsickle on offer at £14 reduced from £50, McMark!! :o
Quite the deal! I believe I have the same plant, brought back from Japan by Darrell Probst and Dan Hinkley in 1997 prior to the plant having a proper cultivar name... I noticed the name 'Creamsickle' showing up recently in UK/EU nurseries, fairly certain this is one and the same. Garden Vision Nursery sells it as E. sempervirens "Variegated #1" for $35 US (roughly £22). My plant grew lustily in one year, and I should be able to divide it into 10 parts next spring. Maybe I can make a small Epimedium hedge of it, surrounding a clump of moody maroon Dieremas, what a drama it would be!