Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Seedy Subjects! => Seeds Wanted => Topic started by: FrazerHenderson on November 14, 2010, 09:01:27 PM
-
Anyone know where I might get hold of seed of Polymnia sonhiflora (superficially like a Telekia but with smaller flowers) - it is a hardy Andean species. A photograph of the flower is shown below, thanks
-
Frazer, this plant was grown here in Holland and through tis Forum I found out what it is.
Here you find more information too:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2796.msg65314#msg65314 (http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=2796.msg65314#msg65314)
I don't think it is likely to find seed in the Northern part of Europe because they flower very late and will probably not set seed.
They can be propagated like Dahlia (cuttings) and make giant tubers within one growing season.
-
Frazer: I missed your request for Yacon (Polymnia edulis) earlier. I've grown this for some years and unlike most Andean edibles this isn't daylight sensitive and in a normal summer gives a good crop of tasty (sweet) roots even here in the land of perpetual daylight. Last summer was not normal and I didn't get much of a crop - I grow it as an annual and restart from small nodules on the roots each year. These are also very small, but I should be able to spare at least one and can send in March when it warms up a bit. Please remind me then if you don't find an alternative. Here are a few pictures of the roots (you can't see the nodules) and the very attractive leaves.