General Alpines

Description

general alpine plant comments/questions here!

Erodiums

Submitted by John Beaulieu on Sat, 01/28/2017 - 15:15

Getting a handle on identifying Erodiums can be a challenge for the novice. They simply do not have the reference material that is available in print for Geraniums and Pelargoniums. There is a lot of information on the internet, but of course much of that is out-dated, and this is another group of plants that even the botanists can't always agree about... Some like to split up into more species and other like to lump many together, which in itself causes confusion. Common species names change, such as E. petraeum becoming E.

Lonicera crassifolia for a warm-summer climate?

Submitted by Novak on Wed, 11/23/2016 - 11:05

I'm wondering whether Lonicera crassifolia can survive in the mid-Atlantic, with our warm, humid summers. Does anyone in a similar climate have experience with this plant?

I ask because I'm thinking about ordering Lonicera crassifolia for our chapter plant sale. We can get a good price from the wholesaler (Sunny Borders). On the other hand, the one plant I tried limped along and then died. Therefore, I want to be sure Lonicera crassfolia can do well in our climate before foisting it on the unsuspecting public.

Thanks for any info!

Janet

 

In the rock garden, 2016

Submitted by Lori S. on Fri, 03/11/2016 - 18:16

In this extended period of warm, spring-like weather, plants are emerging (and some are blooming) a couple of weeks or more earlier than last year, which was an early spring itself.  

Seedlings started last year of Thlaspi zaffranii, an endemic from the island of Crete, are looking fine after the winter:

Iris Cristata- Blue Form

Submitted by Shepard on Sat, 02/06/2016 - 11:38

I have had this for several years, and it has not bloomed.  I have never had an Iris that didn't bloom.  Any recommendations? 

BTW, I have it in three different locations, all with different sun locations.  I have not had it in shade, or semi-shade.  Soil is quick draining. It has not been fed.

Campanula topaliana

Submitted by Novak on Tue, 11/10/2015 - 19:44

Lori Skulski's post of a Campanula topaliana foliage (https://www.nargs.org/forum/alpines-september) has inspired me to post a photo of my plant in bloom this May. It was gorgeous from mid-May to mid-June, but, since it was a biennial, it is now gone. And despite my efforts to play pollinator with a pipecleaner, it didn't set seed.

The plant above the Campanula is Aethionema grandiflorum Pulchellum Group, for which I have the NARGS seed exchange to thank.

Smallest Lupine

Submitted by Hatchett on Sat, 08/29/2015 - 17:01

i was out doing some seed collecting last week and revisited a population of the nicest form of Lupine i have found. This plant seems to occur in a small area of the Owyhee uplands in Idaho. At first glance it looks like a caespitose Draba from a distance but closer inspection reveals that it is in fact a lupine. These plants have not quite flower yet so i will have to wait several weeks to get seed. Here are a couple of pictures.

News of a rediscovered plant in Bhutan

Submitted by IMYoung on Sun, 07/12/2015 - 09:43

Primula lovers may be interested to read about the success of a trip to Bhutan in re-finding  Primula sherriffiae , 81 years after its only finding and introduction.

The team comprised  a number of SRGC members and recipients of SRGC Exploration Grants and were greatly helped by research done on the location by Pam Eveleigh of Primula World.  You can read more  here : http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=13349.0