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Nicotiana glauca + hardy citrus

> On Tue, 16 Dec 1997 17:17:59 -0800 (PST), Kay Lancaster wrote:
>
> >As far as I know, N. glauca always has that greenish yellow flower
color.
> >It's also quite toxic; there have been several deaths from ingestion
> >(the nicotine content is very high).  In addition, the California
Exotic
> >Plant Pest Council of The Nature Conservancy has it on their "Exotic
> >Pest Plants of Greatest Concern" list... in the same rating category
> >as canada thistle.
> >
> >
> Kay: Many thanks for your note.
>
> Goodspeed was quite clear about the fact that he had collected and was

> (late 50s/early 60s) growing red and even maroon forms of N. glauca so

> they certainly did/do exist. On the other hand, if the plant has
> become a noxious weed in California, I daresay the U. of Cal. is not
> too keen to be reminded of its historic links with it, in yellow,
> green, red, maroon or even purple-&-pink-spotted forms! Certainly I
> got no reply when I asked the Bot. Garden if they still grew
> Goodspeed's red and maroon forms.
>
> I can't imagine it becoming an Exotic Pest Plant in the U.K. Difficult

> enough to get it to do more than merely survive. Even more diffciult
> to make it look as though it's actually flourishing. Certainly it's
> never shown any sign of self-sowing for me. Has anyone else in the
> U.K. (or elsewhere in Europe) ever known it do so?
>
> I'm always amazed at how many plants turn out to be
> toxic/hallucinogenic (or more usually both) when you investigate. For
> instance, how many folks in the UK and Ireland know that that pretty
> shrub, so common in mild moist gardens, with holly-like leaves and red

> tubular flowers, Desfontainea spinosa, is one of the most
> feared/revered of S. American hallucinogens? And no, before you ask, I

> don't know which bit or bits or how you prepare it or them.
>
> Hope all Medit-Planters have a completely non-toxic festive season -
> and one that's hallucinogenic only in ways you approve and control!
>
> Tim Longville
> Celia Eddy
> celia@eddy.u-net.com

  Nicotiana glauca will certainly self sow in southern France, it does
so
very readily in our garden on the lower slopes of the Montagne noir here
in
the Aude and I have seen a self established 'hedge'' bodering a car park
in
Collioure in the Pyrennées Orientales about 70 miles south of here.  I
suspect that the climate in the region is not quite warm enough for it
to
become a menace as it has done in California.
    I accept that it is not particularly attractive. I suppose that my
fondness for it is due to its willingness to grow in an almost sterile
clay
soil in a very windy new garden. I wonder is the high nicotine content
could
be put to use as a home made insecticide, doubtless illegal under some
CE
regulation.
    I was brought up in Workington (also on the north west coast of
England,
for non natives)  so I find gardening in an area with a long summer
drought
and where it is almost impossible to do any outside work after 11am
between
May and September quite a challenge.
    Should anyone want some seed I usually have plenty.
    On a different tack- that of cold resistant citrus- where the
minimum
temperatures achieved here (USDA zone 8 approximately) preclude the
common
varieties being grown. I have heard of some more resistant types.
    Apart from Poncirus there are supposed to be the following, gleaned
from
Hillier's Manual and an internet search:-
                xCitroncirus webberi (Citrus sinensis x Poncirus
trifoliata)
"Hardy in the south of England"

                Rusk , a "Swingle hybrid " first produced in the early
years
of this century and used as a root stock in Florida. Said to be hardy in

England.

                Various citrumelo and other hybrids of Georgian (USA)
origin,
introduced in the 1960s and 70s, hardy down to 3°F( -16°C) and destined
also
for rootstock use.

                "Yamaguchi" a trifoliate orange, apparently cold hardy,
which
contains a glycoprotein responsible for the cold resistance- I believe
that
something similar is found in arctic fish.

    I would be interested to know of any actual gardening experience
with any
of the above and any possible sources of plants or seed.

Gordon Walker
Villespy, France
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