|
Pulsatilla 'Budapest' |
||
|
This is rhapsodized over in the literature, a good, true blue form of Pulsatilla vulgaris, found somewhere in the vicinity of Budapest in the early part of the 20th century. There are discussions as to whether it still persists in cultivation or not. Propagation would have to be by root-cuttings, since Pulsatilla vulgaris throws very variable progeny - which is one the attractions of the genus. For my part, I could never understand this fretting over the particular cultivar; after all, it is only a colour, not something more exotic like doubling, and thought that people should be going out in the general area where it grows and search for good colour forms. |
Pulsatilla vulgaris |
|
|
|
Pulsatilla vulgaris - Buda Hills |
|
|
As it happens, my newly found cousin told us in an e-mail this spring of one of their walks in a more distant area of the Buda hills, where there were lots of pulsatilla in bloom. I got very excited and pitched a fervent promotional sermon. The good man was prevailed upon to go back, mark some good colour forms, and still later, to collect seed. Through our seedex you are now going to be the beneficiary of his efforts. This article and my previous one touting various seedex items is being posted on our website by Peter Gill, and there you can see a couple of pictures of the pulsatillas, taken by my cousin - plus other coloured illustrations to these articles. |
||
|
Pulsatilla vulgaris |
It is said that pulsatilla seeds are ephemeral, but of the 50 different accessions I have failed to get germination (or to record germination) in only 11 instances. Pulsatilla vulgaris is the mainstay of the genus in the garden, easy, reliable, with a glorious early display of large flowers rising from small tufts, the small tufts then turning into big hairy brutes, decorated in early fall sometimes by scattered repeat flowers. Taxonomically, it is said that pulsatilla is a mess, and this species has a lot of subspecies and varieties - some of which are raised to species rank by some authorities, so expect confusing names. The plants are quite variable and a fair effort has gone into selection and hybridizing over the years. The Czechs have been quite active in this field. Flower colour will vary from a dark violet to purple, pale pink, horticultural red (meaning a non-gardener would not necessarily accord it a pure "red" designation), pale buff and bluish purple. There are fringed flowers and red flowers. |
|
|
|
Some more good things about it: it takes a surprising amount of shade; it seems pest-free; it performs well in a crevice-sowing; it is tolerant of soil conditions; it is long-lived and Bambi doesn't go for it. I recommend that you throw out your hosta nubs and replace them with pulsatillas. In our tough-love dry and hungry test bed, which has defeated so many would-be gladiators, they just say "thank you". |
|
|
|
||
