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Altna · 15-06-2008, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod

"Roger Van Loon" wrote in message ...
Rod wrote:

"Roger Van Loon" wrote in message
...
Does anyone here have personal experience with Mutisias?
Any advice?
Regards,
Roger.

Nope, mine don't last the first growing season ;~(((
Still trying though. I think there is at least one (don't know which
species) growing outdoors at Powys Castle. Winter there can get quite cold
like -11C, this is in a sheltered dry well drained south facing border.
Rod

Charlie Pridham wrote:
I have sinilar problems with them, best one I have seen is on top of Bodmin
moor on a wall (M.rectusa) I have found cutting M. coccinea back in the
Autumn keeps it through the winter but my main problem is pests , they get
infested I plant them out, they die! I am trying again but its finding the
right place outside.

Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collection of Clematis viticella (cvs)

Thanks, Rod and Charlie.
Glad to know I'm not the only one having troubles with them (or not so
glad after all, no reason to be).
Didn't see them at Powis Castle. But I saw them thriving in several
spots in Logan Botanic Gardens, (M. ilicifolia I think?) and I also
saw very nice plants in some other garden in the UK (can't remember
the name or place). Yes, I thought they did suffer from greenfly in
both places.
But I think my problem is still somewhat different. With me, they come
up easily from seed - and they do OK for one or two years - but the
problem is overwintering them. I have to grow them in pots, and I
overwinter them in a frostfree greenhouse, and then they just die off
in spring (when they should start growing again).
Tried M. coccinea outside once (I had lots of seedlings that time) but
they didn't survive the winter either.
Well, nevertheless, I'll try again.
Regards,

I left my seedlings outside this winter - a fatal mistake. I think Charlie's right about aphids - they seem to be very
damaging on young plants, looks like Mutisia is one of those plants irresistible to everything that likes to suck sap.

Rod

I have, what I believe to be a Mutisia with delicate pink flowers with a yellow centre borne on long thin shoots. It grows very happily in my garden near Inverness. My gardening knowledge is very limited but this particular plant just seems to thrive and happily roots itself. The flowers at the moment (June) are spectacular but it can have a few flowers at any time - even during the winter months.

I have a couple of photos (not close ups) if anyone is interested in confirming for me that this is a Mutisia.