My Current Favourite Plant
By bulbaholic
18 comments
At different times of the year my favourite plants in the garden change. At the moment the twining Codonopsis are in flower. There are two forms of this plant from the Himalayas, one is shrubby growing to one or two feet tall whilst the other climbs through shrubs and grows to a height of about 5 or 6 feet. Both forms are fully herbaceous.
Codonopsis clematidea
Codonopsis clematidea
Codonopsis ovata
Codonopsis ovata
The shrubby forms flower in July for me and I grow them in semi-shade but where they have other plants to help support their slender stalks. These have fleshy roots and need planting out carefully.
Codonopsis grey-wilsonii
Codonopsis grey-wilsonii
Codonopsis grey-wilsonii
In August the twiners come into their own. These are bulbous plants and I treat them slightly differently.
Codonopsis stems
The stem of the twinning Codonopsis is no thicker than a piece of fuse wire. As the stems need a shrub to climb through the stem can be difficult to see at ground level and is very liable to be broken by whilst weeding out other stuff! I now grow these twinners in tall pots. I keep the pots in the greenhouse in winter (purely for general protection – they are frost hardy) and then move the pots outdoors in early spring. When the shoots begin to emerge I place the pots beneath suitable shrubs and guide the shoots up into them. All they require then is watering.
There is nothing difficult about growing Codonopsis although they do seem to prefer a moist atmosphere such as we have in Scotland. I am currently cultivating several more species from seed.
Before I wrote this blog I had concerns that they might be difficult to buy. Certainly the general garden centre is unlikely to have heard of them But as I look in my copy of ‘Plant Finder’ I am pleased to see that there are a goodly number of nurseries listed that will send them by mail order. Why don’t you try this charming genus of plant.
19 Aug, 2009
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Comments
They are absolutely beautiful ... no wonder they are your current favourite.
19 Aug, 2009
These are good plants bulbaholic. I've grown one of them but the slugs down here like them too :-(
19 Aug, 2009
Lovely enjoyed your blog and photos.
19 Aug, 2009
I can see why they are favourites,very pretty........
19 Aug, 2009
Georgous they are and love the detail in the centres, I too can see why they are your favourites.
19 Aug, 2009
I've never heard of these before but I 'd like to try them. Thank you for showing them.
20 Aug, 2009
Oh wow the flowers are lovely thank you for showing them - very unusual.
20 Aug, 2009
these are really qute beautiful
will def put these on my wish list for next year
x xx
20 Aug, 2009
I'd heard of them, but never seen them - now I have! They are beautiful. Thanks for the view of the flowers. :-))
20 Aug, 2009
hello dear sir,
Ive bought a codonopsis grey wilsonii and a c. himal. snow from edrom nurseries uk.
Can you tell me please the size (in lit or anyother inform about it) of the pot you use to keep yours happy in the garden?
vasilis koudros
13 Jun, 2011
Hello, Vasilis. I use either a two or three litre 'rose' ie long pot for my Codonopsis bulbs and find that they are quite happy in this - one bulb per pot. I part sink the pot into the soil and then try to remember to keep them watered.
Edrom is a good nursery and I always try to buy from them when they appear at our shows.
13 Jun, 2011
thanks a lot,
Ialready used 1 lit pot but anyway plants are very young.
Ibought them last winter.
I have plants (clematis from Taylors uk and many plants from Pottertons nursery uk)Unfortunatelly I have to pay a lot for post. Last winter Ibought some roses from Austin's nursery.They worth their money.
Here in Greece there is only one nursery that some one can buy roses ''with names'' all the others just sell roses.
13 Jun, 2011
Hello Bulbaholic..
I have seeds for Codonopsis Clematidea..Is it a bulbous plant ? If so any have you any idea how long from seed to a decent plant..? This should teach me to do my research first...!
24 Nov, 2011
Hi Pimpernel. C. clematidea is one the shrubby codonopsis with fleshy, tuberous roots rather than bulbs. The shrubby ones should grow to flowering size slightly more quickly than the bulbs and should flower after three, maybe four, years.
24 Nov, 2011
That's a little longer than I initially thought, but no time at all for such a nice flower. I will give it a good try.
Thank you very much.
24 Nov, 2011
From my own experience over the last couple of years - be sure to protect the seedlings from slugs/snails! I have found out how much they like the baby codonopsis the hard way :-((((
24 Nov, 2011
Typical..I am over run with snails Lol. If you would like more seed I have plenty to spare.
24 Nov, 2011
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I grew "clematidia" from seed I got from the Northern Horticultural Society (Now RHS Harlow Carr) when I was a member.....Very easy to grow,, and a beauty....
19 Aug, 2009