Lonicera calcarata

[Paul S]

Probably one for Charlie but does anyone know anything much about Lonicera calcarata? Saw one at Wisley the other day, which says much for its hardiness credentials as it has been there a long time by the look of things. Evergreen, scented, big yellow flowers. What's not to like, really.

[charlie]

It has not been there a long time it is just an incredibly fast grower! it is very hard to propagate and I have been trying to get my hands on one every since being shown it by Roy Lancaster back in 2009. Matt Pottage at Wisley has promised me one if they can get the cuttings to take (I am bribing them with a plant of Lapagerai ' Wisley spotted'!)

[Paul S]

Interesting. Well, it certainly survived their last winter, which was an absolute shocker. When you get it, and when you have material for sale, can I please go on the waiting list?

[Chad]

A use for your 'small' air layering balls?

Chad

[charlie]

Got to get hold of it first but yes I suspect that may be the best way

[charlie]

Bit of an update, I have just received the promised Lonicera calarata curtesy Of Jack who drove it all the way down to deliver it safely (if you are looking in Jack it was greatly appreciated) Better propagators than me have struggled with propping this so dont expect it to suddenly become available ! but I will keep you posted next year on how its going.

Question for Chad - is it close to L. hilderbrandiana? ie would crossing be worth a go do you think?

[Chad]

Question for Chad - is it close to L. hilderbrandiana? ie would crossing be worth a go do you think?

Mitochondrial DNA gave conflicting patterns for a genus phylogeny, but a paper last year resolved a lot of the confusion.

It seems morphology was not a good guide to relatedness, with, for example, complete cupules and/or fusion of ovaries occurring several times in evolution.

Wouldn't you know it though, neither hildebrandiana nor calcarata were included!

Their native ranges overlap though.

You have nothing to lose by trying it.

Note.
Kew, but nobody else that I can see, are spelling it hildebrandtiana.

[MartinNicklin]

I assumed it was named after Johann Hildebrandt but I’ve just read that it was in fact named in honour of Arthur Hildebrand. These Germanic names! I would love to hear someone correctly pronounce Kniphofia, which ideally ought to be correctly pronounced “c-neep-hoaf-eea”!

[charlie]

Mine is now planted! and re the spelling I have here Denis Bradshaws booklet on Lonicera (when he was a collection holder) He makes a particular note that it is "named after a mr hilderbrand and not spelt with a T"

[MartinNicklin]

If indeed named after Arthur Hedding Hildebrand, there should be no r in the middle! Plant names are confusing enough, without the extra confusion caused by being named after people with awkward names!