Friday, April 18, 2008

Double Bloodroot...Don't Even Ask!

The double bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis f. multiplex) is a lovely thing; when first unfolding, it always makes me think of an elegant waterlily. The plants sold in general commerce all come from one plant found, according to an account in Linc and Laura Foster's classic book Cuttings From A Rock Garden , in the spring of 1917 in a woods in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. von Webern who had purchased the woods and found the double bloodroot, fortunately sent out a couple of the plants; the original colony apparently eventually died out, but he had sent one plant to the Montreal Botanical Garden, which in turn distributed it into commerce. A few other double flowered bloodroot plants have since been found; in the southeast and perhaps in New England, as well as a pink flowered single. I don't know if any of the other doubles found have had as many extra petals as Mr. von Webern's plant. The doubles are very expensive, because they don't set seed so must (slowly) be propagated vegetatively. However, the $75 price I see charged by a certain well-known nursery is ridiculous.
Various garden visitors here are bold enough to ask for "a piece" of some pretty scarce plants. More often than not, I'll get out a trowel; if ever I turn them down it's usually only when I know they'll kill the plant before the day is done. However, if somebody asked me to pot them up one or two of the double bloodroots, I'd laugh, and I'd laugh...

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// posted by IBOY @ 7:08 AM
Comments:
Beautiful flower and interesting story!
# posted by Blogger chey : April 18, 2008
 
I finally got 3 of them this spring from Seneca Hills for a very reasonable price. I'd wanted them for a long time. Here's hoping they all survive (& thrive).
# posted by Blogger Mr. McGregor's Daughter : April 18, 2008
 
Hi Don,

Your garden looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous. You note that "visitors to your garden"...how does one become a visitor to your garden when passing through Iowa City?

Betty
# posted by Blogger Betty : April 18, 2008
 
Chey and Nancy.. it's amazing how close it was that this plant was lost... only the single plant sent to Montreal survived, and all our double snowdrops came from that.

MMD... yes, her price is nice, and her plants do well for me.

Betty... one e-mails me at lizndon@mchsi.com and tells me to chill the beer!
Don
# posted by Blogger IBOY : April 18, 2008
 
Is there a best time of year to transplant the single bloodroot? I have a thriving colony of them in my backyard, and want to share some with a friend - but I don't want to kill them in the process by doing it at the wrong time!
# posted by Anonymous Anonymous : April 19, 2008
 
One of these days, I'm going to ask for a visit! :-)
# posted by Blogger Shady Gardener : April 21, 2008
 
Shady... let me know. May is nice.
Don
# posted by Blogger IBOY : April 22, 2008
 
Alright! Sometime in May! (I'm excited!) :-)
# posted by Blogger Shady Gardener : April 24, 2008
 
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