RE: Ferula communis in California


 
Hello T*@picknowl.com.au

Thanks for your reply, and if I could trouble you as to your seed source for the Ebenus cretica, I would be most appreciative.  Yes I agree that it should be a principle to keep in mind, that any plant we introduce may turn out to be a problem weed in the wild, and it is interesting to read of plants which are mild mannered in California, which turn out ot be real problems elsewhere.  Most of the plants you have listed will only seed around within an irrigated garden situation in my experience with them in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Tahks in advance for any help you can offer.

Thanks

t*@picknowl.com.au wrote:


I had seed of 2 sp of Ebenus - creticu and biebersteiniana (I think
that was it). It germinated erratically in Winter in a standard potting
mix with a gravel topping but the seedlings went off, not with
mildew but what looked like just plain rain damage to the
cotyledons. It was disappointing.

Ferula communis has been released here as a garden perennial.
Mine looks great but it does seed fairly willingly and I am careful to
cutr down the stalk before the seeds ripen. Last winter while
walking in a national park about 15km away I noticed large stands
of it growing on the steep cliff faces of waterfalls (they only run in
winter) and thought to myself how odd it was to have gotten there.
While the site is not remote it is a long way from cultivated
gardens. It would seem that someone must have deliberately
dropped seeds there. We al! l ! ! should take responsibility for making
sure aour garden plants are well maintained, especially if there's a
chance they could become naturalised and invasive as have
Lavender stoechas, Watsonia sp, Freesia sp, Babiana sp,
Oenothera sp, Verbena sp, Ox-eye daisies, Iris florentina (not a
problem tho'), Rosa rubiginosa, Rosa canina, and quite a few other
garden escapees - mostly from the 19th C.

regards

trevor n
Trevor Nottle
Garden Historian, Garden Writer, Designer, Consultant
WALNUT HILL, 5 Walker Street, Crafers, SA 5152 AUSTRALIA
Tel./ Fax. 61 8 83394210



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