Any info on degenia velebita

[P.Schneider]

I just received my 2010 seeds. It's always great to see if there are any "surprises" in the order. This year I rec. a packet of Degenia velebita. It's a new plant to me. Apparently from  Croatia or thereabouts. Can anyone give me any info, picture or propagation tips??? Thanks in advance. paul s.

[Jeremy]

Holy c--p! Haven't you used the Rob's Plant's link in the SEEDEX section for your seeds yet?
Just kidding, I laughed so hard when I saw your message about the Sax trough I just had to write that. But seriously, you NEED to use the Rock Garden Plant Database for your seed, it'll tell you a lot about probably more than half of what you got. Here's what it says about Degenia velebitica  http://www.kadel.cz/flora/e/kvCard.asp-Id=7251.htm The + or - is for pH.  Good luck!  Jeremy

[RickR]

But nothing beats first hand experiences.  Unfortunately, that wouldn't be me.

[Lori S.]

Me neither, but Norm Deno reports the following (paraphrased to explain abbreviations):
 -30% germination in 1 to 4 weeks in either 70 deg F in light (i.e. seeds not covered) or dark; then, upon with being transferred to 40 deg F, another 10% germination in 5 to 11 weeks; then, after being moved to 70 deg F again, another 6% germination in 4 to 6 days.  With outdoor treatment, 6% germination.
Deno standardized the time periods for each temperature at 3 months (one can often shortcut that and still get some germination, though probably not optimum).

[Kelaidis]

I have several pics on various websites; check out: http://www.flickr.com/photos/delosperma/3980837101/in/set-72157622391606197/

It is an endangered species extremely restricted in range (to the Velebit in the former Yugoslavia). It is long blooming, and very pretty--with decorative swollen seedpods in early summer. I wouldn't want to be without it! I suspect like most alpine crucifers it wants afteripening (which it certainly got if you just got it), then should come right up (although I sow them outside anyway).

Hope this helps.

Panayoti Kelaidis
Denver, Colorado USA Zone 5
Adonis, Galanthus, Hellebore season...forever.

[Hoppel]

Degenia velebitica in my garden grows well in very sunny dry place (limestone) in summer and gets a lot of autumn/winter wet as is not covered. That very nice plant is not problematic, self-sows in a rockery.
I guess it should be grown with no problems in dry areas of US.

[Barbara Weintraub]

I've had it for several years, or at least until that area turned into concrete last summer. I don't know whether any of the plants I potted up survived. It had already seeded and I dumped any seed back into the pots so I may have enough to return it to the garden. If not, I will definitely seek it out! Very early and long bloomer here. It was next to the house, so it got plenty of water and protection, but even so, I don't amend my soil except for what happens naturally so it was growing in slightly gritty clay.

If the pots don't show any sign of life, I will be looking for a source in May! Yes, I love it that much.

[Kelaidis]

Just found this picture: scrolled up and don't seem to see any other pictures of Degenia, so thought I would post it...

Sorry I do not have the wonderfully flannely swollen seedpods: I always forget to take a picture of those! Maybe this year..this specimen is at least six years in this spot and has sown about a bit...Just love it!

[McDonough]

Just found this picture: scrolled up and don't seem to see any other pictures of Degenia, so thought I would post it...

Sorry I do not have the wonderfully flannely swollen seedpods: I always forget to take a picture of those! Maybe this year..this specimen is at least six years in this spot and has sown about a bit...Just love it!

Barbara, I couldn't agree more, this is a great little plant, as showy in flower as it is in fruit.  I had posted a photo previously of the plant in seed in Peter George's garden, here are a couple links:
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=373.0;attach=6757;image
http://nargs.org/smf/index.php?topic=373.msg3592#msg3592

[Peter George]

It's a nice, easy plant for a sunny and well drained location. It's native to the Velebit Mountain in Croatia, right on the Adriatic. The seeds germinate quickly in 70 degrees F., and I find that it generally seeds around each year. I keep it in several locations, and so far I've had most of them for 4 years, with only one plant dying after it flowered in the 2nd year. It blooms here in late May and stays in flower for about 5 weeks, followed by the rather attractive seed pods.

[Paul T]

To my uneducated eye this looks like a wallflower (i.e Erysimum etc)?  Not a genus I've heard of before either.

[Peter George]

Degenia is a monotypic plant genus in the Brassicaceae containing the single species Degenia velebitica. Erysimum also belong to the Brassicaceae, so the flower similarity is due their close familial relationship. The genus Erysimum has 74 species, so is much more well known.

[Peter George]

Yesterday I took this picture of 3 of my Degenia velebitica plants, seedlings from my original plant located in a different part of the garden. They are two years old, and flowering very nicely this year. I should get quite a bit of seed, so if you're interested, let me know.