RE: Ferula communis in California

 

 
Karl, thanks for informing me that this plant is already in California, I had never seen or noticed it back home. I appreciate your words of warning, but I have to disagree about it not being a suitable ornamental esthetically, as it is simply stunning as an accent plant as it occurs wild here in Crete, and to see it at sunset when the flower stalks are glowing, I think it has it's place.  I read in one of the local books on Crete wildflowers that the stalk is slow burning, and was used in ancient times as a giant burning spear... 

But then, I also have Heracleum lanatum (I think this is the correct species name, it's the native Giant Cow Parsnip of coastal Calif.), growing in my garden at home, and it is just as big and overwhelming, but I love the textural contrast with more refined foliage around it.  (It also self-seeds all over the place, but is easy enough to rogue out with a weekly walk-through of the garden).

I was hoping to hear that someone is growing the Petromarula and Ebenus, and still hope to hear from someone who is, but will have to do some searching when I get to London to see if it is being grown there.  I am looking forward to seeing the Chelsea Flower Show, Beth Chatto's Nursery and garden, and of course Kew Gardens while there, and have been told that the Chelsea Flower Show is no longer part of the scene in England, and that the people in the know now prefer the Hampton Court Show, (I think that's it, but don't have my notes with me), but I will be glad to give my impressions to any one after I've been to the show.

Karl Hoover wrote:



David Feix wrote:
>...3. Ferula communis- which has much the appearance of Fennel in foliage,
but a much more
> brilliant flower spike up to 8 feet tall, and a bright butter yellow
inflorescence, and also
> growing in Santorini, but with much less size...


Ferula grows similarly robustly hear in central coastal California and is a
rampant weed on my and my neighbors' land. At least it isn't very poisonous
and smells pretty nice; it seems that it's also been used as a
contraceptive. But as an ornamental, eegads!

Karl
Berryessa Foothils
San Jose, California
UC/Sunset Zone 16 / USDA Zone 9.




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