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Gardening in the UK

Unusual Flowering

21 years ago

It seems to be a funny year so far. Some perennials are well advanced. Centranthus (Valerian), Cirsium and Astrantia are already fully grown and flowering, with Knautia about to follow. And others like Monarda, most Achillea, Lythrum and Salvia are hardly showing a single leaf bud.

I sowed some RHS Matthiola Incana (Stocks - no other information) seeds a bit late last year and they started to flower in November, and have been flowering ever since. Not far away is a Schizostylis (Kaffir lily) which has seen the stocks in flower for some time and obviously realises that Christmas must be approaching fast so has burst into flower itself today!

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Comments (3)

deeds1
21 years ago
I don't think it's as strange as last year was.

Centranthus always starts here about the same time as the bluebells, and the Schizostylis seems to have an odd flower on it throughout the year.
peterls
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks for your comment DeeDs1, I am new to Schizostylis, I did not realise it had odd flowers on during the year. You learn something every day.
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deeds1
21 years ago
Sorry Peter didn't realise you were in the 'frozen North', Cornwall has some very odd microclimates and I think our flowering times are two to three weeks earlier than yours.

Having said that, I've just come back from 10 days at Chelsea to find Roscoea cautleoides in full flower, about 4-6 weeks early If I remember correctly, a lovely welcome home.

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