On 30 Oct, 20:31, "Mary Fisher" wrote:
We're back from Wales and while passing a florists in Lampeter I saw a tray
of these for sale. Having never seen anything like them before I went in to
ask about them.

The florist had no idea what they were but that he'd sold a lot. A customer
said she didn't know what it was but that it grew on her rockery, in
Lampeter, and spread.

I bought one for the novelty - and to use for ground cover I hope.

Someone here will know what it is - I hope.

It looks like orange dress pins stuck into tiny cress! This picture is poor
and I forgot to use something for scale. the whole of the plant is not more
than 4" across.

Mary

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=6ga0ok3&s=1


Orange Top

Small but perfectly formed, Nertera granadensis (Bead plant) is a
vibrant and fascinating addition to any room. Orange is the colour of
creativity and optimism, always popular in eras of change, like the
60s. Originating from South America, bead plants have creeping stems
and tiny green leaves which cover the whole surface of a pot, crowned
with fleshy coral coloured berries after flowering. The bead plant
should ideally not be watered from above, but take up water from
below. Nowadays you can get bead plants in yellow, white and cream as
well, and even combinations in the same pot.

Click here for Nertera plant facts



Requires a light well-drained soil in semi-shade and shelter from cold
winds[200]. Plants are intolerant of excessive winter wet[200]. A
prostrate mat-forming plant that forms roots at the nodes of stems, it
grows well in a rock garden in areas where frosts are light and short-
lived[200]. It is almost hardy in Britain, merely covering it with a
pane of glass in the winter is usually ample protection[1]. A very
ornamental plant.

I would have thought Lampeter would be much to wet for it to do well

David Hill
Abacus Nurseries