Lotus Hirsutum

Hi all. I bought one of these last Autumn and as I'm not sure of it's hardiness have it in a pot in the cold greenhouse. It looks fine, but should I plant it out later in the season and how hardy is it? Does anyone else grow it?
Thanks

BTW it has seed pods if anyone would like some seed.

 

If this is it, Blackthorn, then LoL wil be the expert!

http://www.nccpg.com/Gloucestershire/plantweek24c.html

This link reckons it's "reasonably hardy" and "well worh putting in your garden"! :D

 

Hi Blackthorn and dendro!

I actually don't know this one. What we have here is the Lotus brthelotti and it supposedly likes "cool" (10oC) night temperatures to flower ... however, we don't get that "cool" here in the summer and they flower profusely!

You'd be okay planting it out in a sunny spot but I couldn't vouche for hardiness.

Good luck, they are lovely plants!

 

Thanks Dendy & LoL. It's the 'reasonably' hardy bit that worries me a little.
You wanna some seed?

 

Yes - "reasonably" is a bit vague for my liking..... I think I'd play safe and wait for May, and still keep it relatively sheltered, but then I'm cautious!

I bet someone will appear who has theirs in the most exppsed bit of their garden, and it thrives!

And yes, I'd love some! :D

 

I will pick some pods and send them off

 

You may be "safe" down in Cornwall, Blackthorn, if you don't have severe frosts ... we do have light frosts here and if you saw the one I posted in Country Life it must get attached by frost up in the hills as it's not sheltered and facing valleys.

Yes, please, for me tooooooooo!

 

OK LoL, PM or email your address

 

Thanks Blackthorn! :D I presume you still have my address or you'd have asked....

 

I think so..

 

When I grew it, it was called Dorycnium hirsutum. That was up in the (very frosty) Midlands where it survived temperatures regularly falling to 5C. or more in winter. The key to keeping it happy was to plant in a sunny spot in very well drained soil. I've never thought of it as being particularly tender and on occasions, seedlings would spring up in the gravel surrounding the clumps. It's a delightful, trouble-free small shrub and I can't understand why it has not gained more popularity.

 

That sounds very promising, DaveP ... even for me, which can be hit and miss!

 

Thats very encouraging daveP. If you don't have one now I can send you some seeds too, just PM or email your address.

 

Thanks for the offer Blackthorn, it is indeed very kind of you. However, I doubt if it would fit easily into the planting here since I go for the dense, lush sub-tropical look. Everything here requires and gets copious watering throughout summer and such a short grower would be heavily over-shadowed and probably drowned!

I may take you up on your offer at a later date if that's OK - I'm going to have to do something at the front, especially if I go for a different look with with drought tolerant, sun-loving plants. I've got a large Chamaerops that desperately needs planting out and a young Schinus molle will have to be given some room if it is to develop its full potential.

Interplantings of Dimorphotheca, Lampranthus, Delospermum and Arctotis will provide a 'veldt-like' carpet and the Lotus would be perfectly at home.

 

DaveP ... sounds like you're talking about my garden now ...