Polygonatum 2012

[ErnieC123]

An other lovely plant i like are Polygonatum!
I wanna start with Polygonatum x 'Weihenstephan'

First picture is beginning of April


Next picture is about three weeks later


I will take an other picture when flowers are opened.

[RickR]

Polygonatum verticillatum(?) and friends.  The individual plant spreads and multiplies, but never gets very tall.  From a potted acquisition, in the four full seasons I have had it, it has not flowered.

              

[McDonough]

Thanks Ernie for starting this topic, it's such an interesting and ornamental group of plants.  I only have a few, but they are so endearing based on their form and foliage.  At our annual NARGS New England Chapter rare plant auction, several Polygonatum species auctioned for sky-high prices   I bid on several of them, but my wallet said no in each case, except for one that was termed as aggressive which I bought for $5  (can't remember the name, will need to check in daylight).

Rick, P. virticillatum looks nice, how tall does it grow? Whenever dealing with these plants, one must answer "how aggressively does it spread".

[RickR]

My P. verticillatum(?) only gets to be about two feet, but I know Trond's grows much larger - something like double the height, I think(?)

[McDonough]

What's the horizontal rate of spread?

[ErnieC123]

Polyganatum verticillatum (and friends).  The individual plant spreads and multiplies, but never gets very tall.  From a potted acquisition, in the four full seasons I have had it, it has not flowered.

              

Rick, i am not quiet sure , but i have the worry that it isn't a P.verticillatum!
I have taken some pictures of my Polygonatum vert.'Himalayan Giant' so you can compare.
It is also taller than yours and much more vital.



I don't want to make you unhappy, but here is a pictures of the buds.



I hope it helps you a little.

[ErnieC123]

Crug Farm has some nice Polygonatum !
Here is the link:
http://mailorder.crug-farm.co.uk/default.aspx?alpha=P

[ErnieC123]

Some other Polygonatum

P.falcatum


P.falcatum 'Variegatum'


Polygonatum biflorum (Syn.P.commutatum, P.giganteum)


Polygonatum humile (left) and Polygonatum humile 'Nanum' (right)


Polygonatum multiflorum var. ramosum (spectactular!!!)


Polygonatum odoratum (angular stem)


Polygonatum roseum

[RickR]

My original plant of P. verticillatum(?) came from the Flower Factory in Wisconsin. They are reputable, but don't grow all of their plant materials themselves.  Mark, you see the whole plant there, and from a 1.5 quart pot with five stalks when planted, this is its fifth season.  It grows in filtered sun under an Autumn Brilliance serviceberry (Amelanchier cultivar).

Thanks for all the photos, Ernie.  For me at least, non-flowering descriptions are just as important as flowering or fruiting.  A plant's entire growth cycle is interesting to me.

Ernie, you could be right about a misnaming.  I was going to say that, given its small size for the species verticillatum, that it would seem reasonable for it not yet to have flowered.  But...  I just went out and checked it again, and several stalks have tiny flower buds.  This pic taken just now, the tallest stalk is 17 inches.  The previous pic was taken on 24 April.  With flowers this season, I'll have a better chance of keying it out.  

[Afloden]

Everyone should look through this link for more; http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=2033.0 I have not updated it for some time though and most are currently flowering now.

 Falcatum variegatum = odoratum under current taxonomy.
 the falcatum looks more like macranthum (an even better slower plant)
 verticillatum from the Himalaya's with pale pink flowers will have its old name back at some point as it is not verticillatum from Europe
 verticillatum from Europe has always been slow for me and usually gets just over a foot without flowers.

 Happy to trade for those I don't have, but all need to be hard to find or with provenance information. Hinkleys old collections would be superb. I have many to offer in trade. The collection is currently just over 200 accessions.

 Aaron

[ErnieC123]

What's the horizontal rate of spread?

I would call it a normal rate of spread, my P.vert.'Himalayan Giant' (or whatever[Aaron might tell me:-)]) is spreaded about 15cm in three years, maybe because i move it two times in this short time.

[ErnieC123]

 Falcatum variegatum = odoratum under current taxonomy.
 the falcatum looks more like macranthum (an even better slower plant)
 verticillatum from the Himalaya's with pale pink flowers will have its old name back at some point as it is not verticillatum from Europe
 verticillatum from Europe has always been slow for me and usually gets just over a foot without flowers.

 

Aaron,I am sorry for my bad taxonomy! But my priority is mostly that i like the plants and then there is the will of correct taxonomy.
I am really irritated why so many plants that are on market are misnamed. I honor your plantknowledge as i do honor Marks plant knowledge. Thanks to you all for opening my eyes :-)
And Aaron i will post some other Polygonatum and you are welcome to correct my taxonomy.
What is my P.vert.'Himalayan Giant' ?

[Afloden]

 The Himalayan "verticillatum" are a mix of taxa. Sometimes I see cirrhifolium, but most are the verticillatum rubrum type thing which has been called sibiricum as well. The correct name for the rubrum type plant (which in itself is an awful name for the pale pink flowers) is still to be determined, but there are 3 choices from the 1800's that are far better suited than verticillatum. 

 I wish more people in the nursery trade cared about the name of their plants, but aesthetics are primary in the business and taxonomy secondary. I happen to like both.

 Always interested in seeing additional pictures. It is nice to see how they grow in other places. I kill hookeri in my climate and roseum has never flowered, but still lives!

 Your macranthum is an outstanding plant. Mine has 1 stem after 3 years and the other clone has none this year :-( Maybe the rhizome is still there?

 Aaron

[ErnieC123]

Thank you Aaron! And i divided of a big piece of the P.macranthum for a friend. It grows and grows.
I like the pictures you made on srgc! Some lovely ones!!!
I like the P.falcatum 'Silverstripe', P.cyrtonema 'Purpleleaf', kingianum tall form (what gorgeous flowers!), but i don't have those pretty ones.
Aaron, have you heard of P.lasianthum 'Purpureum' I felt in love with a picture i found from that cultivar.
I will put all of them on my wishlist, but i think it will not be easy to get them:-(

[Hoy]

My P. verticillatum(?) only gets to be about two feet, but I know Trond's grows much larger - something like double the height, I think(?)

Depends on the soil and moisture. They love moist soil. But they flower every year 

What's the horizontal rate of spread?

The rate of spread isn't very quick (10cm/year or so) but steady. In some years it fill all available space.