Sacha wrote:
jane1/12/03 11:11
On Mon, 1 Dec 2003 10:00:50 +0000, Jane Ransom
wrote:
~In article 1g59gff.2pzi8tcluq36N%00senetnospamtodayta@macunl imited.net
~, Jim W writes
~jane wrote:
~
~ I have a little puzzle for everyone.
~
~ In the summer (end July) I was given a seedling from an unusual plant.
~ The donor had no idea of its name.
~ The seedling is currently thriving in a pot, is outside though has not
~ yet lost any leaves, and is growing a single stem upwards.
~
~Leycestria formosa?... Pheasant berry.. (this IS in the RHS encylo
~BTW-)
~
~You will need to move it into the ground soon. That stem will grow to
~about eight feet!! Additionally, lots of other stems will come up from
~the bottom - bit like bamboo. We usually cut out all the stems of two
~years or more to keep the plant under control and flowering freely.
~The berries are loved by birds and you will find seedlings coming up all
~over the place - so it isn't that unusual!!!!!!!!
THANKYOU BOTH!!!!!
Yes, it's in the book ... just not illustrated in the colour-coded
identification section of my oldish edition!!!
Wonderful - a bird bush. Just what I need. I know exactly where that's
going to go... besides the buddleia globosa so I can attract
butterflies and birds both :-) though I guess mine will be slightly
hard done by as full sun isn't available in the shrub section. Still,
it's got two chances...
I guess the definition of unusual is something you personally haven't
come across before. :-)
Considering how common it is, it's amazing how many people don't know
Leycesteria formosa. It's a lovely plant but as has been said already, it
does seed all over the place. We have one straggly and unattractive
specimen growing out of a granite wall at the entrance to our drive and this
has reminded me to go and hoick it out! But be warned, it does spread, as
does Buddleia, so give both breathing space.
I know as we all do, that most Buddleias attract butterflies but I'm trying
to think whether I have seen them on B globosa much and I don't recall that
I have. Anyone?
Yep, but they seem to prefer the longer flowering season of a x
weyeranii.. Ours is still flowering ( or trying to, just) here even
after 2 sharpish frosts.
AS for Leycestria,.. yes it 'looks' unusual but its really common as
muck;-) despite what the RHS says it does resonably well in shade, I
belive it gets its common name from use as a cover planting for pheasant
rearing areas, etc..
Jim