On 2009-10-29 16:32:45 +0000, Dave Poole said:

Sorry, been a bit inundated of late and haven't checked e-mails till
today. Sacha, I know of Nymania and seem to remember turning down the
offer of some seeds many moons ago. My understanding is that being a
semi-desert shrub/small tree, it needs low humidity, very bright light
and reasonable summer heat to do well. It is variously reputed to
tolerate frosts that may or may not be severe, or no frost at all.

I didn't interest me enough, but if I were to grow it I would use a
very sandy compost, press the seeds into the surface and water
carefully from the base. High day temperatures and cool nights
usually work for desert plants, so I'd put them onto a heat pad with a
timer set to 10 hours on and 14 hours off. For all that, they might
germinate like cress given any treatment, but I suspect not.

Having struggled to get Sturt's Desert pea (Swainsonia formosa-
formerly Clianthus formosus) growing from seed, prolonged moisture
around the 'neck' of the seedling is rapidly fatal and I think it's a
fair bet that Nymania seedlings would prefer similar conditions - dry
sandy soil surface with moisture deep down. Certainly not easy to
replicate in a typical English garden.

Dave Fenwick is primarily into African bulbs, but had a keen interest
in many African plants. If he's not familiar with this shrub, he may
well someone who is.

Many thanks, David, I'll pass this on to them. I can only offer you
Swainsona galega or Clianthus puniceus and I suspect you have those.
;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon