Flower ID please

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Flower ID please

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Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 11 11:23 am Post subject: Flower ID please
I was given this at a plant swap but don't have a clue what it is. I would like to know as I don't know what growing conditions it likes!

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 11 11:26 am Post subject:
It's Achillea ptarmica, Probably variety 'The Pearl'. https://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/1603.shtml

Millymollymandy

Joined: 23 Sep 2005
Posts: 187
Location: Brittany, France

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 11 11:35 am Post subject:

How amazing, I had no idea there were other achilleas that were nothing like achillea (if you know what I mean!).

Many thanks for such a quick response.

Although looking up its growing conditions it seems to like "This is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant that prefers full sun and moist but well-drained soil."

Hmmmm just how can moist and drought tolerant and well drained go in the same sentence?

It'll get well drained and bone dry whether it likes it or not here!

I was wondering whether sun or shade really.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 11 1:26 pm Post subject:
I'd say sunny, without being dessert-like: Moist but well drained just means that there shouldn't be stagnant water, i.e. not a bog-garden, and not drying out completely. It's a very pretty plant: enjoy it!

Katieowl

Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4317
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 11 3:06 pm Post subject:

OK Mochyn I'm nominating you to answer this one for me

Bank at the front of the house, shade til late morning, beneath a stone wall with a blooming great lilac on top (soon to be heavily pruned) has been made into a raised bed at some point by putting a stone wall in front....dry as a flaming bone...right to the bottom....furthest point from any source of water we have...What will grow in it, even just seasonally?

It's got daffs in that do OK in spring - less overhang I guess, and we've had wallflowers do OK until early summer. There's nothing in it at all at the moment, I just weeded it yesterday, and I'd like it to look nice for the busy bit. Oh yeah and I forgot - it's windy too! Suggestions?

Think geraniums (pelergoniums) might survive?

Kate

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 11 3:15 pm Post subject:

Pekargoniums aren't hardy enough to stand the winter, but they'd probably do fine in the summer and autumn. How about lots of lavender? Sage? Rosemary? Thres a little daisy-like thing called Erigeron karvinskianus: tiny, scrambly chap. That could go at the front and over the edge. The big Irises should do well for summer colour, and Sempervivums at the front: yum. Helianthemum: there are loads, all appropriate. The hardy annuals self seed and a lot will feel at home in dry conditions: Nigella, Calendula, Night Scented Stocks...

Is the soil acid, alkaline, neutral?

Katieowl

Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Posts: 4317
Location: West Wales

Posted: Sun Jul 03, 11 3:41 pm Post subject:

I know geraniums aren't hardy, no I'd bring them in, take cuttings and plant out again next summer....You think it would tolerate being that dry. I do my best to keep it all watered out the front, but it's a fag. I've been asking for a tap out there!

Rosemary survived the winter...lost some lavenders though. There's a wind off the sea that comes along down there in the winter. Lost all the sage too. That was in the back though, this is more exposed. Is that Erigeron a little pink thing? Think there is some in the village (a good sign it might survive) I'll look for it in the garden centre tomorrow and take a peek at the helianthemums.

There are semps in the front wall...lost some of those too overwinter. Didn't think of annuals. I have a big free bed of flowers in the back garden. Didn't do a thing to it from last year as we were too busy trying to get a veg crop in when we'd finished the B&B. It's got Borage, Nasturtiums, esholtzia, heartsease and calendula in!

No idea what the soil is. I suspect from the texture it's actually straight potting compost from the garden centre....you know the really cheap stuff with no guts in it!!

Kate

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