PUSHING THE BORDERS

Interesting regarding the leptocephalus, Chad, as it is one I have wanted to grow for a while. What about the Holy Grail list, any signposts?

I have fruticosus and acaulis here - the acaulis I believe you grew from seed Dominic? I got it from Steve. They were also unfazed when 'touched' by 0C. Slightly put out when 'kissed' by -3C. I've had both before come back from being 'embraced' by -5C but they were 'totally fcuked' by -8C :D Annoyingly I've tried to grow canariensis here twice (one of yours, Chad!) and each time the foxes have repeatedly dug it up. I will keep trying!

Yes, Acaulis was from me via Steve - it gets huge here in the damper soil that we have. Canariensis is my favourite but the Acaulis flower colour is lovely. There are a brilliant family of plants - are they related to the Dendroseris?

I shall certainly use your temperature scale for future reference, Paul, with regards the Sonchus :D

Thanks Paul. As will be plain to everyone I'm a complete numpty when it comes to garden design. My 20+ years of 'exotic' gardening in Hampshire consisted of packing as many plants together as possible to create a jungle, the more chaotic the happier I was.
Trying and failing to do something a bit different to some parts of the new garden with spikies and succulents so don't mind at all being put right.
Thanks for the link, I'll read with interest and try and learn something.

Dominic B wrote: They [Sonchus] are a brilliant family of plants - are they related to the Dendroseris?

Don't mention it too loudly or they will all get renamed, but Dendroseris 'nest' within Sonchus on plastid phylogeny.

Chad

Dominic B wrote: What about the Holy Grail list, any signposts?

Dominic B wrote:I would love to try Dendroseris Pinnata. Also, Kniphofia Laxiflora Kunth. Vellozia Gigantea, or indeed other Vellozia. Bergonia Luxurians x Parviflora. Finally some of the Dahlias that never seem to be available like eg D Brevis or Scapigera.

Where to begin?

Dendroseris pinnata seed is intermittently available from Rare Plants. Old seed which I couldn't germinate is still for sale at Rare Palm Seeds, they are damaging their brand by leaving unviable seed for sale. I'm waiting for a fresh listing from either site to try again.

Kniphofia laxiflora is grown [but not listed for sale] by Bob Brown at Cotswold Garden Flowers. Always worth asking if he has any 'tucked away'.

Vellozia [I'd never heard of the genus!] seed of quite a few, but not V.gigantea, is available from Mauro Peixoto.

Bergonia luxurians x parviflora. Is this it?
I can't find a reference to the specific cross: you may have to repeat the cross yourself. B.luxurians should be hardy with you and I can give you a bit of that once I've struck some cuttings. Or, ask at The National Begonia Society.

Uncommon species Dahlia are the speciality of Mark Fillan who can be contacted through GOTE which I know you a member of. I had Dahlia foeniculifolia from him and am sad to have lost it to The Beast. I'd like to have it back but am embarrassed to tell him I lost it!

Chad

Chad, thank you.

Yes I tried D Pinnata from Rare Palm Seeds and was not impressed, although I have germinated a single Pruinata.

Top tip for the Kniphofia - I visited the Nursery this summer and met Bob and Ed. Superb Nursery. Will phone Bob.

I grow Begonia Luxurians and it can get tall here as it doesn’t tend to get knocked back in the winter although sometimes knocked over in the wind. The hybrid is one from Kew that I have long coveted and always hoped would make a cameo appearance. I will try the Begonia Society. I tried posting a picture but it just became a series of numbers and letters.

I get Dahlias from Mark and enjoy the hinterland of unchartered Tamar. Still some that I would love to try that Mark hasn’t yet found.

Steve Mules and I can match your plant hunting heroics in Mexico, Paul, we managed 3 Nurseries in one day in the Cotswolds this Autumn - Cotswold Garden Flowers, Pan Global and Special Plants!

Thanks for the tip with Vellozia - I will look into that too.

Your time on my account is much appreciated, Chad.

Dominic B wrote:
Steve Mules and I can match your plant hunting heroics in Mexico, Paul, we managed 3 Nurseries in one day in the Cotswolds this Autumn - Cotswold Garden Flowers, Pan Global and Special Plants!

I bet no-one pointed guns at you!

CGF is an astonishing nursery, isn't it. Such an unassuming name that in no way prepares you for the vast array of material on offer. And Bob is such a nice man.

Dominic,

Do you have Begonia parviflora? If so hybridisation is easy since Begonia are monoecious, with unisexual male and female flowers occurring separately and easily identifiably on the same plant.

If not, seed is available.

Whilst we are contemplating Holy Grails, has anyone seen or grown Hillebrandia sandwicensis from Hawaii [or The Sandwich Islands as they used to be].

Chad

ps. Another of my Holy Grail plants has appeared on e-bay, but I can wait a year or two until it is affordable!

That is true, Paul, Neil told me the story and it still makes me shudder. Mind you, in one or two of the prettier Cotswold villages there were raised eyebrows regarding the state of Steve’s van - I worried that they could turn on us :D