Saussurea - deciduous/herbaceous... or dead?

[Lori S.]

Well, I don't know if this is actually a "cultural problem" as yet, but it seemed as though it might possibly be the right forum to ask the following question:

Are Saussurea, in general, deciduous plants?  Does anyone know if Saussurea nepalensis, in particular, is deciduous herbaceous?  I guess I'm looking for a spoiler.. can't wait until things actually start growing (or don't) here.       Hint, hint - I'm hoping someone can confirm that it is deciduous herbaceous, but I'll accept the alternative, of course, if not!!

Here is one of the many seedlings from last year of S. nepalensis.

Our native representative of the genus, Saussurea nuda var. densa looks like it might be deciduous herbaceous... I'm merely guessing that from the thinness of the leaves, though.  I have not been up there early enough to know for certain.  

 

[Lori S.]

I have since been told, by an experienced grower of Saussurea, that they are generally herbaceous.  I find that very encouraging! 

[Lori S.]

.... encouraging or not, "dead" was the answer in this case.   

[cohan]

The several Himalayan species I have as seedlings (overwintered in sunk pots 09/10, a few planted in the ground summer 11) were herbaceous, mainly, though I cant remember if there were any leaves at all in spring.. I'm keen to see how the ones I finally got in the ground survive or not by this coming spring..

[Lori S.]

I managed to get seeds of Saussurea nepalensis in the NARGS seedex, so will give it another try, this time in the tufa garden. 

[cohan]

I managed to get seeds of Saussurea nepalensis in the NARGS seedex, so will give it another try, this time in the tufa garden. 

Do keep us posted.. I'll let you know in the spring if I have anything to show... I forget my exact species now, without looking them up, but I remember several different habitats from the catalogue (Holubec)- one was alpine grassland, one granite scree, etc...

[Lori S.]

Now that the snow has melted off, and we are back to more normal patchy snow, I can see that Saussurea eopygmaea is herbaceous too.  This will be their third year, so I hope they'll bloom.

[cohan]

Now that the snow has melted off, and we are back to more normal patchy snow, I can see that Saussurea eopygmaea is herbaceous too.  This will be their third year, so I hope they'll bloom.

Mine are all still well buried.. lots of bare ground for this time of year, but not any of my garden areas yet...