Miscellaneous Woodlanders

[Todd Boland]

I have to try and track down Scoliopus...what a charming plant. 

It seems I need to try a vanilla root...I was dubious if it would survive here but if in Calgary, then no problems!

[Lori S.]

Wim, I can't wait to see the Primula maximowiczii!  Not meaning to spoil the coming surprise, but a true red primula - wow!  I grew it for a couple (or 3?) years and then, poof, it was gone... and I had not saved seed for myself (donated it all, foolishly  ).
Scoliopus is interesting.  I wonder how hardy it is?  Is it difficult from seed?

[AmyO]

I wonder how hardy it is?  Is it difficult from seed?

Lori, It must be quite hardy...I bought a P. maximowiczii from Cady's Falls Nursery in Morrisville, VT a couple years ago, a zone 4 nursery. But it never made it through the first summer...too hot I think. I've got seed of it from the Primrose society seed-ex and I'm going to try again. I would also like to know of any germinating tips for it.

[cohan]

Yes, another "zone 6" plant...  

I should mention... it spreads around a bit too loosely to be as attractive as Mark's photo of the Chloranthus, but I kind of like it.

one to watch for seed of, then loose is ok, best intermingled with something else, then, I guess..

[Lori S.]

P. maximowiczii lasted here for 2-3 years, so seemingly pretty hardy, though I cannot claim it was long-lived!  Flora of China says it's a perennial.
 http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200017319
I bought my plant, as you did, and have not yet tried it from seed.

[cohan]

The Scoliopus are very interesting! I've only seen them on SRGC, and somehow didn't have any accurate image in mind....

[McDonough]

Wim, love seeing the two Scoliopus species; I find it fascinating how such North American treasures are more often grown in Europe than here.  And to see S. hallii, that's a double treat as it is much less commonly grown.  I first encountered Scoliopus in NARGS member's gardens in the greater Seattle Washington area, and was totally charmed by these little munchkins (with a terrible common name of Fetid Adder's Tongue).  Have not tried growing there here in New England, but they are most definitely on my list.  Wim, are the flowers bad smelling, to earn their name?
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=SCOLI

google images:
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&sugexp=gsisc&xhr=t&q=scoliopus&cp=7&bav=on.2,or.&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=1280&bih=809

[Hoy]

More than once have I considered Scoliopus but never acquired any. No I have to reconsider that!

[RickR]

That Scoliopus is a beaut.  Kinda has a funny distribution:
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=8123&flora_id=1
Is that because of the mountain rain shadows?

[Hoy]

That Scoliopus is a beaut.  Kinda has a funny distribution:
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=8123&flora_id=1
Is that because of the mountain rain shadows?

It doesn't like neither California nor Washington

[WimB]

Wim, I can't wait to see the Primula maximowiczii!  Not meaning to spoil the coming surprise, but a true red primula - wow!  I grew it for a couple (or 3?) years and then, poof, it was gone... and I had not saved seed for myself (donated it all, foolishly  ).
Scoliopus is interesting.  I wonder how hardy it is?  Is it difficult from seed?

Hi Lori,

if I get some seed of P. maximowiczii this year I can send you some.

I have no idea how hardy Scoliopus is. And I have never sown them myself but I heard from some friends they are really easy from seed. For more info about Scoliopus sowing you can have a look here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2006/080606/log.html, http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2007/210607/log.html and http://www.srgc.org.uk/logs/logdir/2009Jun171245243874BULB_LOG__2409.pdf.

Lori, It must be quite hardy...I bought a P. maximowiczii from Cady's Falls Nursery in Morrisville, VT a couple years ago, a zone 4 nursery. But it never made it through the first summer...too hot I think. I've got seed of it from the Primrose society seed-ex and I'm going to try again. I would also like to know of any germinating tips for it.

Amy,

I sowed P. maximowiczii as soon as I received the seeds (I got them in June of 2009). I think the seeds need to be sown as fresh as possible. I surface sowed them on some leafmould and they germinated very quickly. Just make sure they never dry out and they don't like direct sunlight

[WimB]

Wim, are the flowers bad smelling, to earn their name?

They have a very typical smell indeed, a bit like a dog which hasn't been washed in ages and just ran trough the rain. I've heard the smell can be very strong if grown in a greenhouse and if you have large groups of them in your garden. Here I have to lean in very close to smell it, which I don't do very often...wet dog is not my favorite smell  

That Scoliopus is a beaut.  Kinda has a funny distribution:
http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=8123&flora_id=1
Is that because of the mountain rain shadows?

Rick,

the distribution pattern of Scoliopus hallii is weird indeed (quite border-bound for a plant  )...I'm curious about that too?

Edit by Wim: It only grows to an elevation of 800 m, so I guess the white spot in the middle of the distribution pattern is where the Cascade Mountains are higher than 800 m?

[IMYoung]

We have lots of this plant around the garden, all raised from seed, and we are rarely without out a flower from late December until early May. Despite what has been written about it not producing seeds in cultivation ( for instance in Alf Evans book, 'the Peat Garden') we have always had good seed set on our plants.
This year the flowers are later and are only just beginning.

We grow Scoliopus bigelovii and S. hallii .  We love them both but you could be thought crazy for wanting them as they are curious little flowers, especially hallii, that you could easily walk past and never see.


Scoliopus bigelovii and S. hallii

Both of these are growing in fish box troughs but we also have them growing and self seeding in the open garden. The secret of keeping them growing is never let them dry out or get too hot in the summer, they do not like it.


The bigelovii has lovely spotted leaves while the foliage is young though the spots fade as the foliage matures. S. hallii has plain, brighter green leaves.
The hallii flowers are at most 15mm across... just adorable little things.
The smell is not one you'd want to be cooped up with, but it can be quite pleasant if all you get is a quick whiff in passing!  
The veining and marking o nthe slightly larger bigelovii flowers is really gorgeous.
These guys are real favourites of mine!


Here are a couple of other Bulb Log Links about Scoliopus...

http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/190303/log.html
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2005/010205/log.html




Two pix of S. bigelovii


Of course, they are named for Mr Bigelow, so the "v" is a twist.
http://www.marin.edu/cnps/Bigelow.html

Maggi


 Edit: oops , didn't add the second pic as a thumbnail! Fixed now... click to enlarge!)

[Todd Boland]

On close examination, the flowers are quite exquisite!

If the distribution is below 800m, I expect the hardiness rating is not too high, but then Vancouveria is rated zone 6-7 and Lori has it in Calgary (zone 3) so who knows the ultimate hardiness of Scoliopis.

[cohan]

We have lots of this plant around the garden, all raised from seed, and we are rarely without out a flower from late December until early May. Despite what has been written about it not producing seeds in cultivation ( for instance in Alf Evans book, 'the Peat Garden') we have always had good seed set on our plants.
This year the flowers are later and are only just beginning.

We grow Scoliopus bigelovii and S. hallii .  We love them both but you could be thought crazy for wanting them as they are curious little flowers, especially hallii, that you could easily walk past and never see.

Scoliopus bigelovii and S. hallii

Both of these are growing in fish box troughs but we also have them growing and self seeding in the open garden. The secret of keeping them growing is never let them dry out or get too hot in the summer, they do not like it.


The bigelovii has lovely spotted leaves while the foliage is young though the spots fade as the foliage matures. S. hallii has plain, brighter green leaves.
The hallii flowers are at most 15mm across... just adorable little things.
The smell is not one you'd want to be cooped up with, but it can be quite pleasant if all you get is a quick whiff in passing!  
The veining and marking o nthe slightly larger bigelovii flowers is really gorgeous.
These guys are real favourites of mine!
Here are a couple of other Bulb Log Links about Scoliopus...
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/190303/log.html
http://www.srgc.org.uk/bulblog/log2005/010205/log.html
Two pix of S. bigelovii
Of course, they are named for Mr Bigelow, so the "v" is a twist.
http://www.marin.edu/cnps/Bigelow.html

Maggi
Edit: oops , didn't add the second pic as a thumbnail! Fixed now... click to enlrage!)

Yes, very cool plants for sure!