Spring Beauties

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10) Lewisia, Claytonia, Talinum and other Portulaceae

Being up here on the cold, distal end of the North American species distribution, we have only two species of claytonia. The one that occurs in alpine rock crevices and talus is Claytonia megarhiza. While C. lanceolata can occur in huge numbers in turfy alpine meadows, I think I enjoy seeing it's less populous relative (C. megarhiza) somewhat more - the contrast between the hard, angular jumble of rock slabs that it often prefers to grow in, and the fleshy succulence of the leaves, is always an unexpected feast for the eyes, somehow.

It would be very nice to see some pix of the various species that occur in the more southerly alpine areas... and of the woodland types, too, of course!

Comments

Richard T. Rodich's picture

Richard T. Rodich

Thu, 03/04/2010 - 3:15pm

Flowering the first year from seed witness two forms of Claytonia sibirica from seed (assuming they both really are C. sibira).  The one on the left is from NARGS seed, the one on the right grown from seed received from Todd Boland.  I grew 8-12 of each type, and the two groups were very uniform.

Richard T. Rodich's picture

Richard T. Rodich

Thu, 03/04/2010 - 3:28pm

Showing some anemia from lack of fertilizer or a creeping up of soil pH as my water pH is high from a limestone aquifer, Todd's form (in the upper right) seems to be more tolerant.

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 5:51am

At last one species I grow in abundance, Claytonia sibirica! This one grows along my little creek selfsowing and flowering almost all year round. Sorry, have no good pictures.

Lori S.'s picture

Lori S. (not verified)

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 8:49am

I have not been too successful at growing C. megarhiza.  I have managed to keep it alive in a trough but for only 2-3 years.

Here's western spring beauty, Claytonia lanceolata.

Lori S.'s picture

Lori S. (not verified)

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 8:55am

Here's a shot that might give an impression of how densely C. lanceolata can grow in turfy alpine meadows... note all the little white stars amongst the glacier lilies.

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Fri, 03/05/2010 - 9:30am
RickR wrote:

Trond, does your sibirica look like either of mine in general growth pattern?

Hard to say, Rick. As they self-sow it is differences in aspect and flower colors. The plants get much bigger too and intertwining.

Todd Boland's picture

Todd Boland

Tue, 03/09/2010 - 11:44am

Glad to see the Claytonia are doing well Rick.....mine self-seed all over but are easy to control.  They bloom forever!  I have not had any luck with any of the other species.

Great pics Lori...I have seen lanceolata in Alberta but not megarhiza.

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Sun, 03/21/2010 - 10:02am

You asked once wheather my Claytonia was similar to one of yours! I can't find the topic so I started this. Here you can look for yourself, this is one of my 10 square meters. No flower yet, the snow has recently disappeared.
The first picture shows the claytonia and the second "I still remember what we wrote about - yet! But they won't flower till April.

Todd Boland's picture

Todd Boland

Sun, 03/21/2010 - 5:37pm

Trond, those do indeed look like C. siberica.....only difference with mine is that in early spring they are tinted reddish.  Some of mine are uncovered now but most are still under about 6" snow.

You are teasing me with your S. lilio-hyacinthus!

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 11:12am

Along my little creek in the wood the Claytonia sibirica covers many square meters in the spring and early summer.

Mark McDonough's picture

Mark McDonough

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 11:23am
Hoy wrote:

You asked once wheather my Claytonia was similar to one of yours! I can't find the topic so I started this.

Trond, you can click on the HOME tab in the upper left, then in the Search field on the upper right, type in what you're searching for, such as Claytonia in this case, then click the Search button, and it'll show you all the threads where Claytonia was mentioned.  I will earmark this thread to combine with the original, will do this tonight :-)

Note:  the topic named "To Todd" has been merged with this topic "Sping Beauties" - MMcD

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 1:20pm

Thanks, Mark! This was an old thread however and I would just show the Claytonia now!

Mark McDonough's picture

Mark McDonough

Wed, 06/02/2010 - 1:48pm
Hoy wrote:

Thanks, Mark! This was an old thread however and I would just show the Claytonia now!

No matter if it's an old thread or not, the NARGS Forum is basically a database, enter what you want in the Search filed, and it'll show ALL threads where that term is found.

Todd Boland's picture

Todd Boland

Thu, 06/03/2010 - 5:05pm

Trond, your siberica look just like mine...except mine are not even showing buds yet!  Mine have spread into the lawn this year...perhaps they are a little TOO vigourous!

Richard T. Rodich's picture

Richard T. Rodich

Thu, 06/03/2010 - 9:03pm

My C. sibirica are seeding around rambunctiously in the garden too.  And I planted the first ones (six of them) just last season!  Now that I have some overwintered plants, I see what they can really do, and I am really quite impressed at the flower power.

The individual flowers are cool too:

Todd Boland's picture

Todd Boland

Sun, 06/06/2010 - 2:17pm

Mine are just starting to bud...they are popping up all over but thankfully are easy to control.

Trond Hoy's picture

Trond Hoy

Mon, 06/07/2010 - 12:29pm
RickR wrote:

My C. sibirica are seeding around rambunctiously in the garden too.  And I planted the first ones (six of them) just last season!  Now that I have some overwintered plants, I see what they can really do, and I am really quite impressed at the flower power.

The individual flowers are cool too:

Yes! I tried to take closeups but my automatic camera don't cooperate!