Growing scottish flame flower from roots

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Dips, Mar 5, 2015.

  1. Dips

    Dips Total Gardener

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    im looking to buy a scottish flame flower to grow through my privet hedge

    I have found one nursery on line that sells potted plants but delivery is £13 and i cant afford that since i will have £50 to get a wisteria and this.

    I have found this site tho and they are selling freshly lifted thongs or roots.

    http://www.plantsofdistinction.co.u...nnial-and-biennial-seeds/tropaeolum-speciosum

    Now i have no experience of this what so ever so is growing from thongs or roots easy?

    Do you plant straight into the ground or do you grow on in a pot?

    Any information will be greatefully recieved. Im honestly clueless
     
  2. Fat Controller

    Fat Controller 'Cuddly' Scottish Admin! Staff Member

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    Tropaeolum are the same family as nasturtiums which are generally tough as old boots. If they are the same, the will be directly sown into growing position, will grow rapidly, and will give you more flowers the less you feed them. They will probably self-seed profusely too.
     
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    • IceColdRum

      IceColdRum Cacti & Herb Mad

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      I remember weeding this when I was at Edinburgh botanics for a short time, bloody thing got everywhere so I doubt your have a hard time growing it ;)

      Sent on the go from my telephone
       
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      • longk

        longk Total Gardener

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        The roots need to be cool for it to flourish.
         
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        • Dips

          Dips Total Gardener

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          Long K its going infront of my sheds next to the hedge which is the shadiest part of the garden as that is the north facing side of the shed so that is all sorted

          I have pre ordered them in going to plant one where its going to be and plant the other two in pots as back up incase i lose the first one
           
        • longk

          longk Total Gardener

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          I also seem to remember reading that it prefers an acid soil but I would check that first if I were you.
           
        • Dips

          Dips Total Gardener

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          It says neutral to acid :-) but o have a happy camellia so i should be ok
           
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          • HarryS

            HarryS Eternally Optimistic Gardener

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            I got some Scottish flame flower roots in 2009 , never heard anything called thongs before ! I started mine in pots and planted them in a shadey spot when they showed. £9 is not too bad for three plants , they can be a bit invasive once they get going.
            Also plenty Wisteria plants on Ebay ( no Flame flowers ! ) , as I know nothing about Wisteria , can't advise anything .
             
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              Last edited: Mar 6, 2015
            • Sirius

              Sirius Total Gardener

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              Not all of them.
              I have tried a few Tropaeolum tricolor.
              Outdoors over winter kills them.
              But they don't seem to like it indoors either.
              They prob like alpine conditions.
               
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              • Dips

                Dips Total Gardener

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                Maybe @Sirius yours were less hardy types :noidea:

                The scottish flame flower needs moist but well drained soil so thats not similar to alpines

                It does die back in winter and should be cut to the ground but it is hardy to minus 10-15 in the uk

                I dont know about any other tropaeolum as i havent researched them but thats what the info is on this one
                 
              • silu

                silu gardening easy...hmmm

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                Hope you have success. It can be a bit fickle. There is an old saying that you won't succeed if you buy Scottish Flame Flower, you have to either be given it or steal it ! I have it, given to me by a friend up in Aberdeen. Her Yew hedge groans with it in late summer. Originally she planted it in a gravel path (as others have said it likes good drainage).The plant now has a span of about 40ft!
                 
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                • Dips

                  Dips Total Gardener

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                  I somehow missed half your message before sorry HarryS. I can use ebay unfortunately :-( my credit card is blocked on paypal because people kept trying to use it fraduantly. i have unblocked it before but the same thing happens so its one site that i cant use.

                  But i have found a wisteria. All the info is in thsi thread it is very exciting! http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/threads/which-white-wisteria.92220/#post-910979

                  I have sandy/silt soil so drainage is all good :-) im hoping it will take off.

                  I plan to plant one each end of the hedge and then one in a pot as a back up. Wont be getting them delivered until april so got a long wait to see if they take.
                   
                • pete

                  pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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                  I assume we are talking about Tropaeolum speciosum, from Chile :snork:

                  I tried it a couple of times, never took to my conditions so I had to give up.
                  Nice plant though.
                   
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                  • Sirius

                    Sirius Total Gardener

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                    I stopped at Jaques Amand on Friday on my way home from work.

                    Got myself another ciliatum and a tuberosum
                    Both in posts to get established.
                    May plant them in the garden, in the pot. And then in the autumn just dig the pot up and keep in the greenhouse.
                     
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                    • Dips

                      Dips Total Gardener

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                      So i think i may have a Scottish flame flower growing

                      Here are all the pots with the roots in that arrived

                      [​IMG]

                      And two have something growing in them which im hoping it the flame flower and not a weed

                      [​IMG]

                      [​IMG]

                      Sorry for blurry pics my phone couldn't cope

                      Have i got signs of life or just a weed?
                       
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