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Tropaeolum ciliatum - help wanted
Hi all,
More than 10 years ago, I bought a plant of Tropaeolum ciliatum in a well-reputed nursery in the South of the UK. It was then a very new plant - at least, I had never heard of it. The owner said it was a climber like Tropaeolum speciosum (Scottish flame flower), with identical habit and leaves, but with yellow flowers instead of red ones, and not as difficult in cultivation. What self-respecting plantsman could resist that? I certainly couldn't. The plant did not prove very floriferous (took a few years to flower), and the flowers were not that spectacular - but it was certainly easy to cultivate. In fact, it gradually took over the corner of my front yard where I planted it - and some other places, apparently carried there with the soil when I transplanted other things. And it has now proven itself to be the worst possible kind of weed. It forms thin running roots with small tubers (or whatever they are called). Those intermingle with the roots of rhododendrons and other shrubs, totally covering the shrubs; digging up is not an option. And when digging a hole for planting something else, I found those tubers more than 40 cm. deep. Last year, workmen came to do some work on the pavement in front of my garden. They found those tubers under the pavement, almost at the other side, clearly on the way to colonize the new frontier over there. So, last year, I tried to clear a spot by using round-up (glyfonet), carefully trying to protect the other plants. It did seem to help a bit for a few months. But now the plant has come back with a vengeance, almost as if I used a slow-acting fertilizer. When comparing weeds - I have experience with things like Japanese knotweed and Goutweed, but those are clearly not in the same league. And now, I think, my wordt fear has come true. For more than fifteen years I have been growing the splendid but difficult Tropaeolum speciosum itself. It has kept to itself, even spread out the slightest bit. Now, I see, an identical shoot coming up close to it. Is that Tropaeolum speciosum itself - or T. ciliatum? Without flowers, I can't see the difference. And T. speciosum certainly can't compete. And yet, I see T. ciliatum and its seed still being offered as "an interesting and easy climber". At least over here. Do others have the same experience with it as I have? Has someone found a way to keep it in bounds or eradicate it? Or, at least, to distinguish it from T. speciosum? Any help would be appreciated. Regards, Roger. |
Tropaeolum ciliatum - help wanted
Hello Roger
I can't help with your identification problem but maybe you can help me - My Tropaeolum speciosum is only about 2.5inch high I can't get it to grow! Since you've been growing it for some time, have you got any tips you can share with me? I'd be very grateful!! Lorraine |
Tropaeolum ciliatum - help wanted
Roger Van Loon wrote:
Nick Maclaren wrote: In article , Roger Van Loon wrote: Hi Jim, yes it IS that bad, I did not exaggerate one bit. IMHO, in my location (somewhat dry acid sandy soil) it is the worst possible weed you can imagine. It certainly should be banned. No other weed can compare. Perhaps I was lucky in failing to grow it from seed! Regards, Nick Maclaren. I think you certainly were. What I can't figure out - doesn't anyone in the UK have those same problems with it? I'm sure that, once you have it in your garden, you will never get rid of it. Regards, Roger. I'd never heard of it till it came up in this years Chilterns Catalogue.. I'm guessing it may not do as well in UK London clay if you have sandy soil.. Very different conditions.. That said if it is bad as Vinca I will be very careful with it.. Lokking at some piccies on google it does look different from T tuberosum which has red twining petioles.. ciliatum appears to have green ones? It is described as having an RHS award of garden Merit and being vigourous.. Maybe the RHS might have some advice for you!-) Interestingly descriptions vary between 2 - 5 metres (Cotwolds Garden FLowers )and 10 - 15 metres.. (Rare plants) Chilterns describes it as half hardy.. All the above is from searching on google UK You might try the one for europe (tho I found this includes a lot of US Stuff) or belgium more specifically... http://www.google.be/ and add terms like 'cultivation' or 'control' to your search.. That and contacting others who grow it.. There are quite a few nurseries selling this plant in the UK.. Maybe you can make some money out of it!-) // Jim |
Tropaeolum ciliatum - help wanted
Roger Van Loon wrote:
Jim W wrote: Roger Van Loon wrote: Nick Maclaren wrote: In article , Roger Van Loon wrote: Hi Jim, yes it IS that bad, I did not exaggerate one bit. IMHO, in my location (somewhat dry acid sandy soil) it is the worst possible weed you can imagine. It certainly should be banned. No other weed can compare. Perhaps I was lucky in failing to grow it from seed! Regards, Nick Maclaren. I think you certainly were. What I can't figure out - doesn't anyone in the UK have those same problems with it? I'm sure that, once you have it in your garden, you will never get rid of it. Regards, Roger. I'd never heard of it till it came up in this years Chilterns Catalogue.. I'm guessing it may not do as well in UK London clay if you have sandy soil.. Very different conditions.. That said if it is bad as Vinca I will be very careful with it.. Lokking at some piccies on google it does look different from T tuberosum which has red twining petioles.. ciliatum appears to have green ones? It is described as having an RHS award of garden Merit and being vigourous.. Maybe the RHS might have some advice for you!-) Interestingly descriptions vary between 2 - 5 metres (Cotwolds Garden FLowers )and 10 - 15 metres.. (Rare plants) Chilterns describes it as half hardy.. All the above is from searching on google UK You might try the one for europe (tho I found this includes a lot of US Stuff) or belgium more specifically... http://www.google.be/ and add terms like 'cultivation' or 'control' to your search.. That and contacting others who grow it.. There are quite a few nurseries selling this plant in the UK.. Maybe you can make some money out of it!-) Jim Hi Jim Yes, I know about the AGM (the RHS should certainly have another look at it), and I tried the different versions of GOOGLE. Perhaps you're right and London clay might keep it in check - but I'm sure it will colonize very happily most other places. As bad as Vinca? Oh boy, you should come over and have a look. Too bad I just cleared most of it away from my Rhododendrons, I should have taken some pictures. Thanks for pointing out the twining petioles, I will look at it. Regards, Roger. Just been the the Ally Pally show. 3 quid a plant for the little beastie!-) // Jim |
help wanted
In article , Janet Tweedy
writes The only way I block all these messages is to actually block or kill the thread rather than the actual addresses. Once a thread becomes offensive or OT there's not much point in downloading the follow-ups. I use Demon and Turnpike but there should be a similar blocking capability in Outlook or Agent. janet I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! -- Janet Tweedy Dalmatian Telegraph http://www.lancedal.demon.co.uk |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
help wanted
The message
from Janet Tweedy contains these words: In article , Janet Tweedy writes (snip old message) I posted this message about 7 days ago, heaven only knows why the newsgroup has just shown it! Even odder..I saw it so long ago I can't remember how many days :-) Janet. |
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