|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 13, 2008 22:09:19 GMT -5
Poppy mallow is the latest plant that I have become infatuated with because apparently it grows a taproot that tastes something like sweet potato, is drought tolerant, has edible leaves and is really, really pretty twining around other plants with fushia blooms.
It is a NA native perennial that likes grasslands from what I hear. My interest is obvious but I am concerned that it won't be overly happy with our more minimal heat in Ottawa which of course won't stop me from growing it. Now, if it can be divided or self seeds adequately, and really tastes like sweet potato (how refreshing that they didn't say 'tastes like parsnip' or 'use like asparagus') than I will love this plant.
Anyone had any experience with it?
|
|
|
|
Post by orflo on Dec 14, 2008 1:09:40 GMT -5
One day, the whole of my 'wish-list' will appear over here, this is one that's on it...
So I can't help you, never tried it, but I'll contact someone who could have grown it
|
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 14, 2008 4:51:44 GMT -5
Haven't had much success with this one. I've tried overwintering 3 or 4 times, but the only time I had success was when I found a plant in a local nursery (the owner didn't have any experience with overwintering). The plant was bigger than my own produced plants and with a little help from a mild winter it survived, flowered, but didn't survive its second winter. It didn't grow very big though. I think you would have a better chance as you have warmer summers than we do... Here's my one success: www.hagepraten.no/gallery/pic.php?mode=large&pic_id=1184I've also tried Callirhoe leiocarpa. I have a few seed from 2006, but I'm not sure whether they would still be viable. |
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 14, 2008 9:51:03 GMT -5
I'll update you on my experiement Stephen. I hear mixed reports on its hardiness, anywhere from a minimum of zone 5 to zone 3 so ?? but a local OP nursery around here grows it so I'm going to order seed from them and see how it does.
I'm happy to send you some seeds Frank!
It sure does look pretty though Stephen (ps. it is Ste-ph-en right? Not Steven or something else. Please correct me). Is Callirhoe leiocarpa used the same way then?
From my further research, I'm getting a sense that it wouldn't divide easily unless it develops a split crown and double taproot but that's getting ahead of myself. Some say that it self seeds modestly. Another source said that it has a hard seed coat that requires a bit of work to get germinating so I'm hoping a natural freeze-freeze-thaw-freeze cycle might do the trick. From what I can gather, they need very well drained soil and my front yard is an overheated, drought laden sandpit so it should be happy!
Did you manage to eat any of it?
|
|
|
|
Post by plantsnobin on Dec 14, 2008 10:25:10 GMT -5
I haven't grown this yet, but am getting ready to order seeds. Prairie Moon Nursery sells seeds for Callirhoe bushii, C involucrata and C triangulata. They have great seeds and service, and the packets are only $2 US each. I am getting ready to place a huge order with them because I am working on a native garden at our town's newly built park. It is bordered by a creek, and the opposite side of the creek is my grandparents property, where I spent a lot of time when I was younger. It was a beautiful area filled with hundreds of virginia bluebells, and an ancient Sycamore tree that had grown as a three pronged beast that made a great place to sit. My neat-freak grandparents 'cleaned' it up with a bulldozer. There went that beautiful tree, because of course, it wasn't 'worth' anything. No more bluebells. Now I can at least create something lovely on the other side of the creek.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Dec 14, 2008 13:53:17 GMT -5
I'd love to hear updates on the restoration. I'll have to check your blog.
telsing.
|
|
|
|
Post by stevil on Dec 14, 2008 14:34:25 GMT -5
I'll update you on my experiement Stephen. I hear mixed reports on its hardiness, anywhere from a minimum of zone 5 to zone 3 so ?? but a local OP nursery around here grows it so I'm going to order seed from them and see how it does. Yes, please do - good idea sourcing plants from the north of its range (or even better a local nursery) - it has quite a large range in North America: plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=cain2 It sure does look pretty though Stephen (ps. it is Ste-ph-en right? Not Steven or something else. Please correct me). Is Callirhoe leiocarpa used the same way then? Stephen with a "p h" is correct. I always shortened it to Stephe rather than Steve when I was younger (pronounced the same though).... Incidentally, my nick Stevil should actually be Stephil (but it got too complicated explaining...); Stevil is actually pronounced St. Evil (Saint Evil)...... I'm not all that bad though  Apparently, yes. However, strangely, Native American Ethnobotany doesn't mention any of the species as edible. However, Sturtevants Edible Plants of the World mentions that the Native Americans of Nebraska and Idaho used the roots of Callirhoe pedata. Some say that it self seeds modestly. Another source said that it has a hard seed coat that requires a bit of work to get germinating so I'm hoping a natural freeze-freeze-thaw-freeze cycle might do the trick. From what I can gather, they need very well drained soil and my front yard is an overheated, drought laden sandpit so it should be happy! Did you manage to eat any of it? My single plant shown in the picture didn't produce any seed - it flowered for a couple of months. I stratified the seed and they germinated fine. The one year that I did manage to overwinter a plant, it was actually on quite heavy soil, but I've failed on very sandy soil.... No, I didn't eat it - I may have tasted a leaf, but I really can't remember now... |
|
|
|
Post by utopiate on Jan 27, 2009 0:38:55 GMT -5
I grew a couple plants of this that I probably got from Prairy Moon. They've been in the ground outside the greenhouse foundation a couple years now, kinda sprawling over the ground and blooming pretty well. Zone 5 , cold winters, but fairly hot summers with drying ground. I think they like it.. kinda like the great plains where this native grows. Havn't seen any seedlings yet, or looked at the root. Will have to do that after thaw this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by mybighair on Jan 28, 2009 14:41:50 GMT -5
I couldn't resist buying some seed after reading this thread.
I found seed on eBay at a fairly good price, I'll report back on germination and how they do in the UK.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Jan 28, 2009 16:48:52 GMT -5
It would be great to compare notes at the end of the season.
|
|
|
|
Post by Penny on Jan 29, 2009 8:25:03 GMT -5
I have never heard of poppy mallow, had to google that one.
Good luck with it.
|
|
