I am thinking of ordering some Celmisia seeds to trial in southwestern Nova Scotia. Our winters are fairly wet, monthly average rainfall for November =112 mm, December = 90 mm, January = 73 mm, February = 52 mm, March = 65 mm. Average snowfall during these months in cm is as follows N =7, D = 34, J = 59, F = 40, M = 36 cm. Our monthly average winter high and low temperatures in celcius are: N 7.6 / 1.3, D 2.0 / -4.8, J -0.3 / -8.1, F 0.0 / -8.0, M 3.7 / -4.2
Some of the species under consideration are C. allanii, C. densiflora, C. hectorii, C. lyallii, C. monroi, C. ramulosa, C. semicordata, or C spectabilis.
If any forumists have advice on which of these might have a fighting chance at success in my part of the world, I'd be in your debt!
Comments
Thank you for the
Thank you for the encouragement Maggi! I decided to add Celmisia semicordata aurigans to my SRGC seed exchange order and have Celmisia ramulosa among the plants on my secondary round pick. Now that I think of it, perhaps ramulosa may have been a better fit for a first choice plant. We may have to just carry semicordata in and out of the greenhouse to avoid the worst of winter.
Cheers!
Hi Gordon.
Here in North East Scotland we find that most Celmisias can cope with our climate . We get around 1000 mm rain total each year and can have frosts, mostly without snow cover, down to around minus 12, rarely minus 19 degrees c.
We have not grown C. lyalli.
After a particularly nasty winter a few years ago we did lose some plants - and that winter losses were reported from other milder areas on the east as well - caused by the long periods of minus 12 and worse - without any snow cover. Some found that the larger-leaved species were more vulnerable, but in Aberdeen, where many gardens have large displays of large-leaved hybrid Celmisias, these seemed to cope well with the harshest winters.
Since you can expect snow cover in your winter months the plants may establish pretty well. I'd certainly think that attempts from seed are very worthwhile - these plants are all so attractive in leaf and flower that they are so worthy of a place in any garden that thy should be tried. Not always easy to get decent germination of seed, but yes, go for it!
Maggi