Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Hans J on September 01, 2010, 08:35:06 AM
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Here is flowering my
Gloriosa lutea
I have received this plants before some weeks from a nice plantfriend ;) as G.'Rothschildinana' ....but it turn out as a other species :o
a other friend has confirm me the name G.lutea :)
Now I search for a real G.superba 'Rothschildiana ....if here are any other collectors of this wonderful plants please contact me via PM
Hans 8)
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Hans, that's a glorious flower ;) with elegant undulate floral form. I assume it not hardy and is for a glasshouse or windowsill.
After all of the heat and drought, I've been watching the slow development of Gentiana clausa alba, unperturbed by the drought, surprising when this bottle gentian is found in moist locations and stream-sides. The foliage remained dark green, not showing any sign of scorching as so many of my plants have this season. Last year I received a seedling plant from a friend who specializes in native North American plants, and I believe this rare white form was from seed collected in New Hampshire. Fascinating too, is that the flower bracts appear well before the buds, making an intriguing and curious looking posy nested on top of the enlarged terminal leaves. I like that the flowers are tinged green at the apex. I include some links showing other colors forms, the more typical blues and purples. My plant is 12" (30 cm) in flower.
Gentiana clausa - bottle gentian, blind gentian, closed gentian
http://plants.usda.gov/java/largeImage?imageID=gecl_001_ahp.tif
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/482/index.htm
http://2bnthewild.com/plants/H82.htm
http://www.photographersdirect.com/buyers/stockphoto.asp?imageid=1806885
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/aYpcyQ-JiwqdnhvJcJgyVQ
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sa_young/2814721801/
USDA plant profile & distribution map
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=GECL
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September seems to be slow off the mark in the Northern Hem.
Here are some late (re)flowerers from my garden.
1) Fuchsia pumila - has been flowering non-stop for the last 3 months ... and it's not over yet ! 8)
2) Erigeron chrysopsidis 'Grand Ridge' - provides a second (or is it the third ?) flowering this season.
3) Rhododendron ferrugineum's flowering in the Spring was rather shy and it's trying to make up for it now ! :D
4) Delosperma cooperi - always good for a splash of colour during Summer and early Autumn !
5) Helianthemum lunelatum has to be my favourite Helianthemum - it's practically never without flowers from May to October ! :D
6) Oxalis 'Ione Hecker' surprised me with another flush of flowers - never had this before this late in the season ???
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You are lucky Luc with such lovely flowerings :)
Erigeron chrysopsidis 'Grand Ridge' - provides a second (or is it the third ?) flowering this season.
so sweet nestled against the rock and I love the shadow too :D
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A nice splash of September colour Luc.
Do you protect your Delosperma cooperi over winter. I grew it in my rock garden for the first time last year and it did increadibly well, but lost it all over the winter.
I have seen it in more exposed gardens not far from here and it survived the winter.
Graham
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The Delosperma often looks horrible after Winter Graham, but I cut it back and most of the time it recovers nicely and if a plant doesn't, I always find plenty of seedlings that take over ! :D
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Luc, your Helianthemum lunulatum is gorgeous. I'm really envious 8) :)
BTW I'm not a Rhodo specialist but I have seen so many years Rh. ferrugineum in the wild and your plant does not look like the natural form.
And the backside of the leaves are obiously not 'rusty'.
Must be a hybrid, beause I don't believe it's Rh. hirsutum too???
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The Delosperma often looks horrible after Winter Graham, but I cut it back and most of the time it recovers nicely and if a plant doesn't, I always find plenty of seedlings that take over ! :D
Thanks Luc,
I have been left with one seedling.
Graham
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Luc, your Helianthemum lunulatum is gorgeous. I'm really envious 8) :)
BTW I'm not a Rhodo specialist but I have seen so many years Rh. ferrugineum in the wild and your plant does not look like the natural form.
And the backside of the leaves are obiously not 'rusty'.
Must be a hybrid, beause I don't believe it's Rh. hirsutum too???
The Helianthemum is very high on my list of preferences as well Luit : such a good "behaviour" and so floriferous - I love it.
I got the Rhodo under that name 3 or 4 years ago from Portier nursery - the origin might even be Herman Geers, I don't know, but you are right, the leaves backsides' are not rusty....
The Delosperma often looks horrible after Winter Graham, but I cut it back and most of the time it recovers nicely and if a plant doesn't, I always find plenty of seedlings that take over ! :D
Thanks Luc,
I have been left with one seedling.
Graham
Good luck with the one Graham ! ;)
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You've shown us more great plants, luc, obviously happy in your garden.
I agree with Luit- I don't think the rhodo is pure ferugineum.... most likely one of the hybrids... perhaps one with the (invalid?) name of 'Intermedium' :-\
I think it could do with a tonic..... some Miracid or Vitax Q4, something like that to green it up a bit. ;)
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You're definitely right Maggi - it did suffer from the drought and the 3 to 4 weeks of heat we had in July... :(
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A herbaceous Clematis.
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Actually there are very few flowering plants in the garden, most autumn flowering bulbs are still dormant, one exception is this Rhodophiala spec. (pratensis?), another flowering plant is Origanum dictamnus.
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Not exactly rock garden plants, but I wandered round the garden and had a look to see what I could find as it was such a nice morning. Much to my surprise there was far more in flower than I thought.
I like the Althea cannabina which can grow to two or three metres with a splattering of these delicate little flowers.
The Aristea ecklonii is in flower in the mornings only, a lovely blue, not many flowers at a time, but it does have a long flowering period - three weeks so far and another flower spike is just forming so I guess at least another three.
Aster x frikatii 'Monch' a sure sign that autumn is arriving.
Astrantia Gill Richardson group, an astonishingly dark flower, I saw a clump at Cally Gardens and had to have it!
Buddleja Lindleyana has been flowering it's heart out for a while and still some are to come.
In contrast is Crocosmia Okavango coming to the end of it's flowering soon.
One of my cyclamen hederifolium peeking out from under a Forsythia.
Daphne x transatlantica Eternal Fragrance is into its second major flush of flowers as is
Gladiolus flanaganii - I took some seeds off it yesterday!
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I love Ipomea (once Mina) lobata and wish it would flower all year.
This unusual scabious is Miss Havisham, well named I think.
The phytolacca berries will soon be a feast for the birds, but this flower seemed to split in two.
Roscoea purpurea Peacock has been flowering for ages too.
I saw this Salvia at Old Wollerton Hall, it was wrongly labelled but we think it is Salvia Splendens 'Helen Dillon' whatever it is the colour is sumptious.
Scilla autumnalis is flowering in the snowdrop and fern bed.
This is my first Sternbergia which came into flower yesterday and I am pleased to see more buds too.
A new plant in the garden is Succisella inflexa 'Frosted Pearls', a delightful airy plant for half shade with tiny globular flowers, the second picture shows its size.
One for David, Tigridia pavonia, I don't know where this has come from so it must be a seedling
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...and finally ::) I was warned not to grow this Tropaeolum speciosum as it would be a thug and smother everything, here we are in year three and it's about a metre tall, there was one earlier that reached about three metres too. It shows you how the climate has restricted it's growth so I am pleased to have it. In fact Tropaeolum 'Ken Haslet' is far more vigorous!
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...and finally ::) I was warned not to grow this Tropaeolum speciosum as it would be a thug and smother everything, here we are in year three and it's about a metre tall, there was one earlier that reached about three metres too. It shows you how the climate has restricted it's growth so I am pleased to have it. In fact Tropaeolum 'Ken Haslet' is far more vigorous!
It's lulling you into a false sense of security, Brian............ :P
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Time will tell Maggi, I am sure it is because the garden is so dry ;)
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A wonderful selection Brian ! :D
You're absolutely right, it's amazing how much still is in flower at this time of year.
Glad. Flanaganii is a favourite of mine, but you knew that didn't you ;)
My seedlings are finishing their second growing season - one more year I guess and I might be able to show flowers here as well... :D :D
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Unusual and intriguing plants flowering in your garden, Brian, and I love your dark maroon Astrantia Gill Richardson group and I agree
Salvia Splendens 'Helen Dillon' whatever it is the colour is sumptious
but you have some real treats like the sunlit first Sternbergia and the extraordinary phytolacca berries which the ladybird seems to be enjoying :D
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Thank you both, Luc I also gave some seeds to Richard Hobbs who told me yesterday that he thought they would be flowering size next year so well done and I hope you have a multitude of them.
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Robin in the flesh the Astrantia is sumptious, in my opinion by far the best maroon. I was told by Gill Richardson that lots of people had grown it on from seed and hence the Gill Richardson 'Group'.
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Can your buy these sumptious seeds :P ?
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Brian some lovely flowers there...I do really like your Succisella inflexa 'Frosted Pearls' can you say if its hardy.
Angie :)
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Reflowering in our rockgarden are :
Anemone multifida
Heterotheca jonesii
Geranium 'Carol'
In the greenhouse : Viola spatulatha
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Robin I will keep an eye out for you ;)
Angie, mine came from Hillview Hardy Plants and I think it is hardy, it originated in the Southern Balklands and is described as a long lived perennial.
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Thanks Brian I will go and place a order. Brian take care with your Tropaeolem this is a plant that I wish I had never planted it's everywhere, maybe because we have more of a wet climate it is happier here but when I see it in garden centres I cringe.
Angie :)
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I have taken all the warnings on board Angie, but it is so difficult to establish here in East Anglia that I am hopeful it will remain a delight ::)
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Here are two tinies I nearly overlooked ::) Both come with a name, the Allium was given by a good friend who has lost the name of it and the Acis rosea came from Jenny Archibald sent on the morning of his funeral so will always remind me of them.
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Great plants shown here. I really LOVE that dark Astrantia.
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Here are two tinies I nearly overlooked ::) Both come with a name, the Allium was given by a good friend who has lost the name of it and the Acis rosea came from Jenny Archibald sent on the morning of his funeral so will always remind me of them.
Brian added more info on the blue allium: The petals are 1cm long and the tallest stem is 12.5 cm, she grew it from seed from NARGS some years ago.
I believe the plant shown is consistent with Allium sikkimense, a very nice dark blue color on that one.
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Cheers Mark, it certainly is a lovely blue.
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Here are three shots of an Eucomis I grew from seed. I have three other seedlings coming along, which will hopefully bloom next year. I believe this is E. pole-evansii, but correct me if I am wrong.
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The University of British Columbia's 'Botany Photo of the Day' is well worth subscribing to.
Todays offering name check's the forum, so thought I would post this link:
http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/
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Obviously people of very good taste!
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The first of my Autumn gentians is in flower. The label says Gentiana 'Eugen's Allerbester' but it isn't.
That one must be somewhere else and I will have to move this label when it flowers.
Squirrels seem to amuse themselves by taking labels out and carrying them off.
Graham
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My own single clone of Acis rosea has never set seed but some given seed (thanks RW) started to come through yesterday. Truly delighted. :) :) :)
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Love the first of the Viola pictures. It brings to mind tarantulas and their like. ;D
I also very much like your avatar picture Graham. It assures me you have a rather ponderous kind of wisdom and experience to share.
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This Eucomis planted itself in the gravel which covers a layer of builders rubble, old bricks etc, it seems as happy as Larry (whoever he was). Behind it is this little cyclamen, and flowering elsewhere Colquhounia coccinea var vestita, obviously in a better place than C.coccinea var coccinea as that is shy to flower.
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Three good plants but the last one is really beautiful.
Paddy
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Thanks Paddy, it really is stunning although the flowers are quite small.
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Love the Colquhounia Brian. Is it hardy for you?
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I think after last winter we can say yes Gail, it's in it's third year now.
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Brian really lovely plants I to like your Colquhounia 8) never heard of it before.
Angie :)
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Teucrium charidemi, am endemic of the Cabo de Gata area, SE-Spain
Conophytum ricardianum ssp. ricardianum, the "clonotype", i.e. the actual plant from Lorelei (SW-Africa) on which the species was described by Tischer ca. 1930. By taking cuttings this plant is still with us, and not difficult whatsoever.
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that teucrium is very nice! is this one you coddle indoors over winter?
the cono is nice too, fun to have a plant with such an illustrious pedigree :)
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that teucrium is very nice! is this one you coddle indoors over winter?
the cono is nice too, fun to have a plant with such an illustrious pedigree :)
Yes, I keep the Teucrium frost free. It is not a difficult plant. Taking cuttings works fine too...
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that teucrium is very nice! is this one you coddle indoors over winter?
the cono is nice too, fun to have a plant with such an illustrious pedigree :)
Yes, I keep the Teucrium frost free. It is not a difficult plant. Taking cuttings works fine too...
do you find it difficult to keep it in enough light over winter, or is it resting and doesn't mind?
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Flowering today with me:
The Convolvulus welcomes us each morning with new fresh flowers when we have the
first look out of the window.
Passiflora incarnata started rather late at the beginning of June to grow and is now more than
5 meter in height.
Epilobium rigidum amazes me with big flowers, this mall plant was sown in January this year.
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Rudi do you happen to know the name of the Ipomea in 006, it is a lovely colour.
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Yesterday was a rather nice day with some sunshine.
Good day to make some pics in the garden.
Here is Vernonia crinita together with Molinia alt. Windspiel
I’m afraid the picture was made just in time, because today we had only rain and it was very windy :(
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I love the Vernonia Luit, but how do you keep it upright? Mine seems to flop over at the first opportunity, is it because of my dry soil?
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I love the Vernonia Luit, but how do you keep it upright? Mine seems to flop over at the first opportunity, is it because of my dry soil?
Brian, it is possible that your place is to dry for Vernonia, but the other possibility is that you have another Vernonia from seed?
You should look for V. crinita Mammuth if possible, which is a selection made by Ernst Pagels. My plant came very many years from him, but that was before Mammuth was named, so I’m not sure if it is Mammuth, but it looks very much alike.
BTW, I read that V. crinita is a synonym of V. arkansana (that’s why I could not find anything about it’s wild origin when searching for growing conditions)
Here’s a link with a rather good article about Vernonia by Val Bourne.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3336268/How-to-grow-Veronia-crinita-Mammuth.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3336268/How-to-grow-Veronia-crinita-Mammuth.html)
Just a little mistake I saw: Where the plants height is mentioned you should read 6 ft ( 2 m.) instead of 60cm (2ft)
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A rainy day in my garden.
1. Schizostylis coccenea
2. Schizostylis coccenea
3. Schizostylis coccenea
4. Cochicum davisii
5. Colchicum hybrid
6. Colchicum pannonicum
7. Acis autumnalis
8. Acis autumnalis
9. Sternbergia sicula
Poul
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The first spike of Gladiolus papilio this year
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Brian, it is possible that your place is to dry for Vernonia, but the other possibility is that you have another Vernonia from seed?
You should look for V. crinita Mammuth if possible, which is a selection made by Ernst Pagels.
Here’s a link with a rather good article about Vernonia by Val Bourne.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3336268/How-to-grow-Veronia-crinita-Mammuth.html (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3336268/How-to-grow-Veronia-crinita-Mammuth.html)
Just a little mistake I saw: Where the plants height is mentioned you should read 6 ft ( 2 m.) instead of 60cm (2ft)
Thanks Luit, a good article, I like the Molinia with your Vernonia, mine was nursery bought, but I don't think it was called 'Mammuth' still a super plant, I grow it with a very thuggish Bidens integrifolia which matches it in height, and contrasts quite well.
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Good to see Vernonia, such strong and showy plants for late summer and autumn. Even with drastic drought conditions that gripped the region all summer (and persists to this day), Vernonia stands tall and flowers prolifically regardless of having virtually no rain, nor watered manually. I grow Vernonia noveboracensis, which reaches 8' (just shy of 3 meters!) and just starting to go over now (only took a photo of it in August when budded up). Some interesting info on Vernonia, or the Ironweeds as they're called here in the US.
The genus is a huge one, wikipedia stating 1000 species, can this estimate be trusted? There are 30 species in North America, almost all documented to hybridize where their ranges overlap.
V. crinita is correctly known as Vernonia arkansana, some pertinent links:
USDA Plant Profile page on Vernonia arkansana (syn. V. crinita)
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VEAR3
ITIS taxonomic standing:
http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=38621
V. arkansana links:
http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/great_ironweed.htm
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242417428
Many web sites still list the older name, V. crinita (note the comments about frequent hybridization)
http://www.missouriplants.com/Pinkalt/Vernonia_crinita_page.html
But, if you had just one Vernonia to grow, I recommend V. lettermannii, a short (as vernonias go) species, with fine filigree thread-narrow foliage doing a fair impression of Amsonia hubrectii, only growing to 3' (1 meter), and flowering now with proportionally sized heads of the similar ironweed-rose-purple color.
V. lettermannii , narrow-leaf ironweed (from Oklahoma and Arkansas)
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4888453&fbid=435943772987&id=243932662987&ref=nf
cultivar: V. lettermanii 'Iron Butterfly' (<---note cultivar naming irony... oops, yet another pun)
http://www.northcreeknurseries.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/plants.plantDetail/plant_id/468/index.htm
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Thanks for all that information Mark, it's amazing, you've never heard of a plant before and then you find there are so many species! I've just looked in the Plantfinder online and find that V. lettermanii 'Iron Butterfly' was last listed two years ago :( I also discovered that the nursery which I bought my vernonia from lists V. crinita 'Mammuth' so that's probably the one I have Luit ;D
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Rudi do you happen to know the name of the Ipomea in 006, it is a lovely colour.
Brian, I bought the seeds some years ago as Ipomoea tricolor in a garden center, but forgot which
cultivar it was. The plants sow themselves profusely, you just have to weed the unwanted plants off.
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Vernonia lettermanii (and/or) Iron Butterfly looks like a very desirable plant. Never seen it here.
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Lapageria rosea in various colour forms just coming into flower.
L. rosea palest pink
L. rosea pink
L. rosea
Mike
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Oh, Divine! Mike.
Paddy
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Really lovely, I bought L rosea this year but has not flowered as yet. Hope it will grow for me.
Angie :)
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Mike, that palest pink is a stunner :o
I must check on my L.rosea in the morning to see if there are buds.
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This must be how it started? I wonder how long it has been growing in this garden in sunny D? Certainly as long as I've been driving past, which is over 20 years, yet it hasn't taken over! :o
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Mike, that palest pink is a stunner
I agree with Brian, Mike, it is so elegant and understated - are you growing it outside on a south facing wall? 8)
The first spike of Gladiolus papilio this year
Would love to see more of your Gladiolus Oleg, G.papilio looks a lovely colour :)
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Robin
The lapageria are growing in huge pots on a garage wall facing east, the only suitable location in my garden. I have tried growing in the shade of acers but the plants do not seem to like my soil even though I used lots of peat and home made compost to plant them in. If we have hard frosts the flowers and unopened buds fall off the plant but even last years deep freezing weather did not hurt the foliage. As yet I have never had seed set, will keep trying.
Mike
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Well they obviously like their position - good luck with the potential seed in the future ;)
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I am very envious and jealous of these Lapageria! I have never managed to get ahold of one and the one in the local BotGard never sets seed for some reason. Does one need two clones? So, tell me, all, as this is named for Napoleon's wife (maiden name de la Page), are we calling it la-paj-ree-a or la-pa-ger-i-a-? I vote for the first, as it is an honourific.
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As yet I have never had seed set, will keep trying.
That is, indeed, very sad Mike :'( :'(
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a couple of mine. They suffered terribly last winter but are recovering.
Over the years seed has been set on several occasions and as long as it is sown fresh germinates readily.
I have sorted Jamie out with some seedlings
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Your white Lapageria is very nice Tony ::) What are your minima temperature in last winter ?
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It got to about -7c. I know others have found no problem but the top growth on my plants which are in pots outside was totally destroyed. They have new shoots coming from underground.
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Some flowers at the moment here
Every year when the weather gets more wet and windy, Aster amellus give some good color in the garden
Aster amellus Weltfriede
[attach=1]
Aster amellus Moerheim Gem
[attach=2]
A newly planted Bidens aurea Hannay's Lemon Drop promises a good performing for next year.
[attach=3]
Since 6 years this Sedum is growing in the same spot, but did never satisfy till this September.
It's just about 25 cms. high.
Sedum telephium Carl
[attach=4]
Here is another plant which is every year different. The shown plant looks rather good but
at another place I have one which much less flowers this year. It differs from year to year.
Eriogonum umbellatum
[attach=5]
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No garden should be without grasses. (Words from a famous Plantsman) :) I like the Molinia altissima forms always moving in the winds
and giving an aerial appearance.
Molinia altissima Cordoba
[attach=1]
With Molinia altissima Windspiel I notice this year rather dark stems.
[attach=2]
Both would give a nice combination with the next Aster, which will reach the same height after the third year.
Aster umbellatus
[attach=3]
Many Miscanthus are rather high or don't flower with much color. This seedling where obviously M. Ferner Osten was involved but reaching just 1.50 m.
It is already more than 10 years a good performer and will be propagated (at last) next spring
Miscanthus Indian Chief
[attach=4]
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On the raised bed this (unknown) Daphne surprises again with many flowers.
Daphne
[attach=1]
Nearby this Allium is more surviving than really being nice. Probably to dry?
Allium Sugar Melt
[attach=2]
Not flowering but pretty
Armeria caespitosa
[attach=3]
At the foot of this bed a New Zealander
Raoulia tenuicaulis
[attach=4]
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I have recently been pleased by this Gentiana ornata growing in a pure peat.
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No wonder you are pleased!!! :D
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Nearby this Allium is more surviving than really being nice. Probably to dry?
Allium Sugar Melt
Luit, your plant of Allium 'Sugar Melt' looks very short or stunted, too short in fact, maybe too dry as you say. However that cultivar is very drought-tolerant, and this year even with our terrible drought, the plants still uniformly reached 16" (40 cm). This is one of my named hybrids, now sold by Plant Delights Nursery... hopefully yours is from a vegetatively propagated division, as seedlings from these Allium senescens hybrids do not come true from seed, they'll hybridize with anything. Is this now being sold in UK/EU nurseries? Here are a couple photos from previous years.
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In mid-May I received a packet with bulbs of Leucoryne. Actually it was sort of a spare packet from
a post-order firm. Without much hope I put them in the soil. Here is the result.
Picked already several stems for a small vase and they flower again :D
[attachthumb=1]
Last year I planted some bulbs of Bessera in a nymphaea pot filled with the same sand as in the
garden. In November I put this pot in the garage where it is not cold enough and the pot dried
fully out. Planted and watered in April outside and here it is
[attachthumb=2]
Bessera elegans
[attachthumb=3]
Bessera elegans cl.
Please click to enlarge
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Luit, the Bessera elegans is very beautiful.
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Nearby this Allium is more surviving than really being nice. Probably to dry?
Allium Sugar Melt
Luit, your plant of Allium 'Sugar Melt' looks very short or stunted, too short in fact, maybe too dry as you say. However that cultivar is very drought-tolerant, and this year even with our terrible drought, the plants still uniformly reached 16" (40 cm). This is one of my named hybrids, now sold by Plant Delights Nursery... hopefully yours is from a vegetatively propagated division, as seedlings from these Allium senescens hybrids do not come true from seed, they'll hybridize with anything. Is this now being sold in UK/EU nurseries? Here are a couple photos from previous years.
Mark I received my plant from a trader who probably got it from PDN or another nursery.
In the first year they looked rather like your plant and I remember that I wanted to know more about the origin and found pictures on the net at your website. There was no reason to doubt then. Did not make a picture the first years because I was hoping for a nicer plant in coming years.
I never saw it here afterwards.
Like I said, that was 4 years ago and since than it never performed really, because the raised bed is to dry for it.
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Luit, the Bessera elegans is very beautiful.
Elegant ;)
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A very nice display Luit !
Enjoying your last walks in the garden before packing and heading for Scotland are you ??? :D ;)
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A very nice display Luit !
Enjoying your last walks in the garden before packing and heading for Scotland are you ??? :D ;)
After Maggi's last posting in the SRGC Discussion Weekend Thread, I am afraid I cannot stay at home anymore ;D ;D ;D
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Some flowers at the moment here
Every year when the weather gets more wet and windy, Aster amellus give some good color in the garden
Aster amellus Weltfriede
Aster amellus Moerheim Gem
Aster umbellatus
Beautiful Asters Luit, I have a soft spot for asters, and it is Aster season here in New England. Well, maybe I can't claim that anymore, as the taxonomists have split off American asters into 9 separate genera ::) ::); Almutaster, Canadanthus, Doellingeria, Eucephalus, Eurybia, Ionactis, Oreostemma, Sericocarpus and Symphyotrichum, with Almutaster & Canadanthus having one species each ::). I still call them asters, and I predict one day, it'll all come full circle and they will once again return to being what they really are... ASTERS!
When it's aster season here, I practically run off the road when driving while distracted and gawking at magnificent roadside displays of native asters. While driving to central Massachusetts this weekend, I stopped at a pull-out, and there were 8-9 species of Aster, including evidence of A. ericoides hybrids. Aster umbellatus was there too, mostly done flowering and going to seed, but still looking fairly good, but this one is now supposedly called Doellingeria umbellata.
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Mark,
It has come full circle with the Asters! Symphyotrichum Nees is from 1832, Ionactis Greene is 1897, Doellingeria Nees is 1832, Eurybia is Cassini 1820, Eucephalus Nuttall 1840, Oreostemma Greene 1890, and Sericocarpus Nees 1832! Only Almutaster and Canadanthus are young names from 1982 and 1995, respectively.
I also have a soft spot for them, but they are just about to begin here. I have several good pink S. pilosus and numerous collections of another dozen or more species. The woodland species, E. schreberi and divaricata, are in flower now. I have three selected variegated forms of the latter.... I should get pictures.
Aaron
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Mark,
It has come full circle with the Asters! Symphyotrichum Nees is from 1832, Ionactis Greene is 1897, Doellingeria Nees is 1832, Eurybia is Cassini 1820, Eucephalus Nuttall 1840, Oreostemma Greene 1890, and Sericocarpus Nees 1832! Only Almutaster and Canadanthus are young names from 1982 and 1995, respectively.
I also have a soft spot for them, but they are just about to begin here. I have several good pink S. pilosus and numerous collections of another dozen or more species. The woodland species, E. schreberi and divaricata, are in flower now. I have three selected variegated forms of the latter.... I should get pictures.
Aaron
Ha! Another aster lover... yes, let's see some "aster" pics in the next few weeks, from your part of the USA. I have a bunch queued up already, but mostly holding off until I complete a deadline task in a week or so.
Actually, I'm familiar with all of the genera in the great American aster meltdown; seems that we're moving a century or more backwards rather than forward. Look at Luit's Italian Aster amellus cultivars, then look at something like Aster oblongifolius, and tell me they're not both asters. I know, I'm being inflexible on this, I've read the papers, but when I read the key separating out these genera, I think to myself, they've got to be kidding, talk about splitting hairs... they're splitting nano-filaments here! ;D ::)
That said, in our woods I am familiar with genera that always had some members in them, such as Eurybia and Seriocarpus. And looking at my "fav", Aster linariifolius, I can reluctantly see the case for Ionactis.
Regarding a pink A. pilosus, this is perhaps my favorite Aster (Symphyotrichum) of all time, and I've made a concentrated study of this wondrous plant. I have found some that are pink-tinged, or with flowers that age pink, but out of many thousands of plants seen, only found one nice light pink one... just starting to flower now. I'd like to see what your pink one looks like. Are your A. pilosus plants scented? This is the most outstanding aspects of this species, the flowers are perfumed like vanilla cookies baking, unlike any other plant I know of, on warm indian summer autumn days the aroma fills the air for meters around; I'm literally addicted to sniffing at the flowers as often as I can.
Speaking of Aster buds, some of these species are remarkable in the bud stage too, the stage many are in now. The growth is intensely divaricating in growth, so they provide lots of visual interest throughout the growing season. Some pics:
1-2 Aster pilosus - a collected form, growing at the base of my deck, already 6' (2 meters) tall. Just now starting to pop a few white flowers, but it'll really get going in October. It is one of the longest flowering Asters, and THE LAST PLANT left flowering each year, continuing into December; indifferent to frost. The innumerable little rotund white flowers provide preferred death beds to bumble bees as cold weather ensues.
3 Aster pilosus - from 2009, a narrow-petal form, which I'm embarrassed to admit, got weeded out this summer by mistake, when clearing out the area that had become overgrown.
4-5 Aster ericoides (Symphyotrichum) - budded. My collected forms grow 4' tall or more, making clouds of white.
6 Aster ericoides - prostrate form. Plant growth is 1-2" tall, absolutely flat, will be smothered in white flowers. For laughs, I planted regular Aster ericoides, the 4' tall upright plant, right behind it as counterpoint. The taxonomists have deemed both epithets Aster ericoides var. prostratus and Symphyotrichum ericoides var. prostratum as synonyms for Symphyotrichum ericoides var. ericoides. In the photo, there is also an Aster (Ionactis) linariifolius form in bloom.
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fun to see the asters--tons of them here too, though my season is much farther along than yours..ours are mostly pinky purple to bluey purple, except some marsh species which are white-whitish (there are white prairie species, but not in my area)..none as tall as the eastern species--probably averaging 30-60cm here for most, but they put on quite a display, painting the roadsides purple starting in august, prob a few even earlier...
still some in flower in spite of frosts, and many will look great in seed too..
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Here is Eccremocarpus scaber - a dark red variant. Flowering since months.
(not hardy here)
Gerd
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fun to see the asters--tons of them here too
Don't forget Cohan, you do not see any asters, no, not a single one ;D ;D
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Look at Luit's Italian Aster amellus cultivars
Mark, I wonder why you call A. amellus Italian asters?
Here is Eccremocarpus scaber - a dark red variant. Flowering since months.
(not hardy here)
Gerd
Gerd, that's a super red color. I have seen the yellows and orange forms in our coastal area coming back every year when planted through shrubs
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Look at Luit's Italian Aster amellus cultivars
Mark, I wonder why you call A. amellus Italian asters?
Because many web sites refer to it as such, the Italian Aster. I know it has a very large European and Asian distribution, but for some reason (I'm not sure why), many people refer to it as Italian Aster. Google the phrase, and you'll see what I mean.
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Mark I never heard of it before, but I see that it's called Italian Aster only in English speaking countries.
Here we would say Bergaster (mountainaster) and sometimes Kalkaster is used because it doesn't like alkaline soil.
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About Aster linariifolius, does this flower already in your place? Here it's mostly not before the end of September.
I would not like to miss it in my garden, it's very late and elegant. Here an older picture of it
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Mark,
S. pilosus does have that sugar cookie fragrance. It really is amazing. You're the only other person who I have known to mention this. Even the basic white form is worth growing for this alone.
Aaron
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About Aster linariifolius, does this flower already in your place? Here it's mostly not before the end of September.
I would not like to miss it in my garden, it's very late and elegant. Here an older picture of it
Lovely A. linariifolius Luit, a good looking form. It is quite prevalent here, preferring sandy enbankments. Just a few miles from my house, in southern New Hampshire, there is an extensive road embankment, actually a hillside cutaway, where thousands upon thousands of these grow; I've made a number of selections over the years. Yes, some are in bloom now, some have been flowering for a while, and some are still just in bud. I'll post more later once done with a deadline next week, but here's a random sampling, including a white one in bud.
As an aside, my entry level Nikon Coolpix camera does a terrible job capturing the true flower color of this aster, in sun looking all washed out, in shade looking ghostly or overlaid with a blue haze... I've taken so many photos, but have thrown out most of them, just can't get that robins egg blue color to show properly.
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Mark,
S. pilosus does have that sugar cookie fragrance. It really is amazing. You're the only other person who I have known to mention this. Even the basic white form is worth growing for this alone.
Aaron
Aaron, so good to get your corroboration on the sugar cookie fragrance on Aster pilosus... I'm not having bakery fantasies after all ;D
About 5 years back, I had my "great aster experiment"... sick of the stiff and stodgy hybrid asters (some are nice I suppose, but most lack the charm and airy grace of the wild species), I sought out native asters, stopping along roadsides and taking basal cuttings from the best. I created an "aster mound", a raised earth mound about 10' x 8' x 2' high, planted with all white asters, pilosus, lateriflorus (in the white form instead of pinkish), and ericoides (both tall and prostrate forms). It exceeded all expectations, and from September until November its a billowing mound of white. One day I was out weeding the garden nearby, the year after the initial planting, and I was catching whiffs of an enticing warm cookie aroma, I thought to myself that my wife must be baking again, she's a good baker and she frequently bakes yummy cookies. The aroma was so enticing, it was driving me to distraction, so went inside the house, but nothing was baking. Go back outside and discovered Aster pilosus was the source :o :o :o
So the reason I planted my gigantic 6' (2 meter) multi-stemmed forest of Aster pilosus but the bottom of my deck stair, was both for the months-long succession of bloom, and for the amazing aroma.
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fun to see the asters--tons of them here too
Don't forget Cohan, you do not see any asters, no, not a single one ;D ;D
i'm ok using 'aster' as a catchall common name, and leaving 'Aster' as the debated genus name ;D
my local situation is rather confusing anyway--i haven't figured out most of the species anyway, so don't even know which of the genera to use!
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Just catching up after a long weekend away, super pictures Luit and Mark, I particularly like the Miscanthus Indian Chief and will look out for it in the future.
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I particularly like the Miscanthus Indian Chief and will look out for it in the future.
That will last some years Brian ;D but in comparison that is short. I tested it more than 15 years and I know it is one of the best :D :D
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Lovely A. linariifolius Luit, a good looking form. It is quite prevalent here, preferring sandy enbankments. Just a few miles from my house, in southern New Hampshire, there is an extensive road embankment, actually a hillside cutaway, where thousands upon thousands of these grow; I've made a number of selections over the years. Yes, some are in bloom now, some have been flowering for a while, and some are still just in bud. I'll post more later once done with a deadline next week, but here's a random sampling, including a white one in bud.
Mark what a treat to see all these different forms of Aster linariifolia.
I have my plant just 4 or 5 years and there are for sure not many plants here in the Netherlands.
Now I know that it’s at least very hardy. To select better forms might be interesting but I’m afraid that seed forming with such late flowering plants here is difficult and therefore pretty impossible?
Thanks for showing all these different forms.
Here is another not much (almost never) used Aster.
It’s only a good plant when in a poor, rather dry and hot spot, where it flowers 6 weeks at least.
When in a rich soil they become to high and don’t look good. But in such poor spot it takes several years to become a good mat.
Aster radula
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Here is another not much (almost never) used Aster.
It’s only a good plant when in a poor, rather dry and hot spot, where it flowers 6 weeks at least.
When in a rich soil they become to high and don’t look good. But in such poor spot it takes several years to become a good mat.
Aster radula
Luit, what a sight! What a pity that this Aster will probably fail in my heavy soil.
Gerd
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My garden yesterday.
1. Sternbergia lutea
2. St. sicula 'Dodona Gold'
3. Colchicum agrippinum
4. Col. autumnale 'Alboplenum'
5. Albuca tricophylla, 2 year old seedling
6. Crocus speciosus
7. Tropaeolum 'Ken Aslet'
8. Empodium plicatum
9. Empodium plicatum
10. Empodium plicatum
Poul
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You should be very proud of your garden Poul. Empodium is a species I haven't seen before, pretty little thing.
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Poul, do you have a picture of the LEAVES of Empodium because I have what someone gave me as an Empodium but it hasn't flowered in 5 years. Makes good leaves though! ::)
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Thank you David. I am proud of some part of my garden... ;) Other parts I am not so proud to show here :-[
Lesley, I have no pic of Empodium leaves, as I received the bulbs this season. I will show you when the leaves come.
Poul
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Poul, do you have a picture of the LEAVES of Empodium because I have what someone gave me as an Empodium but it hasn't flowered in 5 years. Makes good leaves though! ::)
Lesley, this any good?
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Empodium
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Thanks David. It's good to the extent that I'm thinking what I thought was Empodium maybe isn't. I can't take a pic of the leaves at present but will do when able. But they are not deeply pleated or even really pleated at all, just rather striped but not colour stripes, more texture stripes. They come up each year but no flowers. Were given to me by a north-of-Auckland friend but then he's given me many odd things over time so I may have something entirely different. ???