Alpines. Piccies of

Sedum.


Erodium "Bishops' Form"


Acis autumnalis.


Gaultheria procumbens.


Ourisia.


"Flowering Box".

 

I have Erodium "Bishops Form", which I have had for a few years and love it for its compact floriferous habit, forming a very neat, low, tight cushion full of beautiful flowers. About a month ago I tried to take a cutting from it, getting deep into the ground, and a couple of weeks later noticed that a lot of the whole plant was dying off. I think some of it survived, and it seems to be also growing back. Fingers crossed, one of my favourite plants.

 

First time flowering of a Nototriche from the Andes.

.

 

Nerines.



Petrocosmea from China.



Winter Saxifrage.



Mutisia oligodon from Chile.

 

Lovely pix @kindredspirit.
That Acis is a lovely little plant. Not one I have any knowledge of. I'll be looking into that!

 

@fairygirl the acis grows quite easily from seed. But I had to keep it in a pot as it's so delicately built it could get covered up. When I finally get my alpine area done, it'll have a better chance!
Gorgeous nerines @kindredspirit

 

@fairygirl That Acis is a fairylike, ethereal plant. Beautiful flowers but they don't last long.

 

Thanks folks. I had a look online - didn't realise it was a Leucojum. Very very nice. I was looking yesterday to see if I had a spot to suit it, but I'd probably need to create something, and in a site so that I could also see it from the house.
I may be tempted....

 

It's a lovely little thing @kindredspirit , and I sense a new project for a suitable little site for some!
Found a supplier that has seed @CarolineL , so I might try that.
While looking, I saw some other plants which looked interesting - Albucas. Several types, and I might give those a go too. Don't know if either of you have tried those? There seems to be a bit of variation with the hardiness, but if they're easy from seed, it's worth a punt. I can always try them against the house wall or similar.

 

@fairygirl Yep, have an Albuca. The one I have is OK. Short flowering period again.

 

I have albuca shawii. It's a nice little thing. Again grown from seed. But it's suffering in my soggy conditions. I did get a.spiralis to flower from seed, even more interesting to look at. But once again, the wet was too much.

 

Yes - I think it'll be the usual problem of 'wet' for me here. I'd have to think carefully about how to grow and site them.
Nice to hear you've both grown some though. May have to be containers and against the wall or similar.
Something to consider over the long winter days

 

For Alpines, I generally use 50% limestone grit, 50% soil for alkaline conditions-loving plants and 50% pink granite horticultural grit, 50% low ph soil for acidic conditions-loving plants. Often, though, I vary this according to individual plants depending where they grow in their native habitat. Plants are tough, though, because if I plant them in the wrong medium, they still seem to grow. For example, my "current raves" are Petrocosmeas. I was told they prefer damp, acidic conditions and I've now just read on the internet that they grow in Limestone regions high up in the mountains. @fairygirl

 

I know what you mean @kindredspirit - many plants seem to adapt quite well to all sorts of conditions they apparently shouldn't like.
Our soil here is clay, and on the acidic side of neutral, but I also grow quite a few dianthus, which shouldn't really like the conditions, especially as the soil never dries out to any extent. Having said that, they're in the gravel - my back garden is basically a gravel garden with raised beds, so they have limited access to the soil below, and it seems to work well. I have some in containers too.

All you can do is try to replicate the conditions as much as possible, without going too mad, and then see what happens. If you're trying to grow something that needs loads of sun, poor soil and really sharp drainage in a shady spot that has heavy, wet clay, then it's unlikely they'll be very happy, but if you can do a little bit of juggling, it can pay off.
I really like the look of those little plants - both species, so I may get some seed and experiment.
Thanks for your help, and yours too @CarolineL . I'll report back if I decide to try them.

 

Polyxena Longituba