Another Mystery

A rock plant this time. These little things were lurking in a gravel path so they were rescued before the dreaded weedkiller got put down. Its leaf is a flattened blade and simmilar to another rock plant I grew years ago but can't find a reference. Mine had bright yellow flowers so this came as an unexpected surprise. It's about 5" tall and the flowers only open up in direct sunlight. No rhizome as such but the roots are slightly thickened at the leaf junction and are an off yellow colour.

 

Sisyrinchium

 

:D Thanks Pete. Just got to 'S' in my RHS A-Z it's taken me 2 evenings!

 

Yes it is a Sisyrinchium.
I have got some with yellow and with blue flowers.

Mine are growing in the gravel round the bottom of the house, which they like.

Sometimes they can die off for no reason.
I have propagated them into compost, whih at times they don't like, or they are fickel.

Will form seed pods.with small black seeds in them.I just shake them into the gravel and let them do there own thing.

There is a taller variety called Sisyrinchium Striatum Which grows 1 1/2ft and has creamy coloured flowers in early summer, but I have found with this one it tends to be home to small snails. All of these plants like a well drained soil in full sun.

The planting time is usually September-October, but as long as they are watered afterwards to help them settle in any time up until the autumn would be ok.

Kandyfloss

 

Usual reason for loss is planting too deeply. If you look at the way a plant grows from seed, you can often see daylight between the bottom of the plant and the soil.
They can become awful pests!

 

Yep, agree Palustris, I was given one many years ago which I planted on the rockery at one end of my pond.
Have spent years trying to get shot of it. :D

 

I have hundreds, dark blue amd yellow, they seeed everywhere and Martin just plants them up al over (he thinks they are iris despite what I tell him) anyway they look fantastic at the moment, so not grumbling.

 

:D Oh well! I've seen worse looking weeds so they can stay in the bit of ground I've just cleared of Grape Hyacinth - Muscari (some hopes!) They can fight it out between them for now.