Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: newstart on May 26, 2010, 04:24:45 PM

Title: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: newstart on May 26, 2010, 04:24:45 PM
Dianthus species midd pink? Geranium ? Heuchera ? Dianthus light pink ? Saxifraga ?

Thanks it would be great if we could get species and even cultivars if possible. The mossy Saxifraga is very common so a cultivar should be easier on that one at least.

I had not taken pictures last year when in flower so I had not asked about them then. These are some of the last ones for labelling. Thanks again. Hope everyone's well!

David.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: shelagh on May 26, 2010, 08:50:54 PM
Hi there David, pictures 5,6,and7 remind me of a Heuchera or some such we used to have with those bright red flowers perhaps someone else can supply the correct name for you.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 26, 2010, 09:44:22 PM
The first Dianthus could be 'La Bourbrille' but I think the name is different nowadays and the second could be 'Whatfield Wisp' - perhaps. Heuchera sanguinea maybe?
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: newstart on May 27, 2010, 01:00:45 PM
It does look like a Heuchera sanguinea Lesley. I assume sanguinea opens to small bell flowers. 'Coral bells' looks similar but I am not quite sure. Perhaps someone could add to Lesley's answer ?

Can anyone confirm the Geranium species if the cultivar is not known? I could possibly look on the net for 'mossy saxifraga' as the common one shown is lightly to come up on google images with that search title.

Common names come up well on google images too so they help if you knew those for the two above.

I also have two more here a lovely , Phlox light pink and some sort of common thyme. The two Phlox photo's are the same !

-bad memory sorry, I vow to label them!   Be great to finally get them sorted.

Sorted-Dianthus 'La Bourbrille' is correct. Dianthus 'Whatfield Wisp' turned out to be 'Petite'. Its amazing what you can do if a flower is held next to a computer screen 'Petite' was identical in foliage and flower and size. So Dianthus are Sorted!

Many thanks !
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Lori S. on May 27, 2010, 03:17:14 PM
The geranium looks like Geranium sanguineum.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Zdenek on May 27, 2010, 07:10:54 PM
I think the geranium is G. argenteum. Silver leaves?
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 28, 2010, 02:20:28 AM
Could be any of just about a dozen phloxes.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: newstart on May 30, 2010, 10:59:32 AM
Thanks folks I will get onto google and check it out too from the names thought to be the ones. Can someone quickly give me the thyme. Also is any one prepared to have a stab at the light pink dotted red centre Phlox. I could then use those guesses to match to google images search and get the nearest probably.

Hope its okay to ask a little bit more. Thanks David.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: mark smyth on May 30, 2010, 01:22:22 PM
The Geranium is sanguineum. Argentium is very silver.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: mark smyth on May 30, 2010, 01:23:32 PM
Phlox, the choice is yours http://marksgardenplants.com/phlox.htm (http://marksgardenplants.com/phlox.htm)
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: newstart on June 05, 2010, 02:41:52 PM
Nice Phlox photo's Mark ! Good close up photograpy. One last question- Is it sometimes difficult to tell the differnce between Phlox subulata and Phlox douglasii. Or is douglasii  always smaller. My phlox is bigger and looks like douglasii from your photo's which is confusing as I thought douglasii to be much smaller.

Many thanks for the link.

David.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 06, 2010, 04:45:12 AM
P. douglasii is smaller, much smaller than P. subulata. The former a compact, low flattish cushion, the latter, a large sprawling mat. Of course different clones vary within each species, but generally, small=douglasii, large=subulata.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: newstart on June 08, 2010, 04:11:16 PM
Many thanks I thought so. Its always good to get it confirmed by experienced people like you guys though. Much appreciated.

I hope you don't mind but I keep looking at a tub i have high on a wall. It has a periwinkle. Vinca major 'Variegata' in, however next to this a plant has popped up with a little mystery. The mystery plant I think is a Penstemon of some kind. It grew slowly at first to about 7" height x 10" spread. Then suddenly this year it took off a grew about 2-3ft high. I think it reverted possibly back to its species given the sudden size difference. I don't really know though. Its foliage is a purple/green mix. The flowers as shown. Any idea of the species ? even a possible variety name?

Here it is-

Thanks you for the help. I wondered if I could take cuttings etc. If I have a better idea of what it is it should be easier to work out if its cutting compatible etc.

David. Much appreciated.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Lori S. on June 08, 2010, 04:20:42 PM
The mystery plant is not a penstemon, but a snapdragon, Antirrhinum.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: newstart on June 08, 2010, 06:57:59 PM
Do they normally grow this tall and are they perennial. Also does any one now which species this is. Are they only propagated by seed generally or can cuttings be done. Thanks Lori for the first bit much appreciated.

Not such a great day here but I am glad of some rain for the garden it very helpfull.

David.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Maggi Young on June 08, 2010, 07:15:10 PM
Antirrhinum can be any size from prostrate ( as Asarina procumbens) through to a giant I have heard of that makes five feet/ 1.5m! ( Never seen it)

Most are in the region of 10inches to 2ft/ 25cms to 60cms  and are perennial though they are often grown a hardy annuals -in the UK at least.
You could grow them from cuttings if you wanted to preserve a particular colour but they are quite simple form seed and so are usually propagated that way.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Lesley Cox on June 08, 2010, 10:00:51 PM
I especially like the 'Black Prince' cultivar which comes true from seed but I was given a few cutting in the first place. Love the very deep red flowers and almost red/black foliage. Seed later, if anyone wants it.

Maggi, Asarina procumbens does indeed grow to 1.5 metres and I could show you if Clematis akebioides (damned thing) hadn't grown all over it. I get occasional seedlings on the Asarina which climb up wire or shadecloth fences. They are very neat about it, lying flat and with a very "arranged" look. Will take some pics in the summer. :D

Sorry, I misread there. Yes, the Asarina is prostrate if there's nothing to climb on BUT it climbes to 1.5 metres if there IS something. Will scramble though a rhodo or anything else too.
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: Maggi Young on June 08, 2010, 10:14:24 PM
Yes, you've got the right end of the stick now, Lesley... the 1.5m giant snapdragon was an Antirrhinum not an Asarina .... as I said... I have not seen it, only read of it.... needs staking at the back of a border, of course. :P
Title: Re: Have a few challenges of alpine identification !?- Thanks.
Post by: newstart on June 15, 2010, 02:27:55 PM
Thanks Again for all the info. Its invaluable! I will look into doing some cuttings. I get a lot of self seeding which seem the same colour in foliage. I think the flower could vary although I suppose you wouldn't know until it did flower like many plants. Are flowers very variable from seed. As you say very pretty. My Antirrhinum was small but reverted and became bigger in year 2. First year it probably was getting its roots in still though. My Antirrhinum is greeny black foliage colour does any one know a species. If not not to worry.

Thanks I will get back to the forum as soon as I can

David!
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