TOW Tuberous Pelargonium

TOW Tuberous Pelargonium - Part 2
chuck Schwartz (Fri, 27 Aug 2004 16:46:31 PDT)

John,
You are spot on with regards to their location; just in front of a building
to save daylight heat.
chuck Schwartz
San Clemente, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Bryan" <johnbryan@worldnet.att.net>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2004 9:44 AM
Subject: Re: [pbs] Re: TOW Tuberous Pelargonium - Part 2

Dear Chuck:

Thanks for the news. If the plants do not get hit by early morning sun,
then I have no doubt they can withstand 30f for a while, but no doubt it
did not last long, given your location. In addition, I feel that while
the thermometer indicated 30F, the tuber itself would have warmed the
air a little, it having stored a certain amount of 'body heat' from
previous days. I often feel we do not credit the potential of warmth
eminating from such structures, and always wonder if the actual
temperature experience by the plants is, in fact, that which is
registered on the thermometer, often placed in the air at a distance
from the actual plants. Cheers, John E. Bryan

chuck Schwartz wrote:

I beg to differ with you, John. I have had Pel's fulgida, radulifolia,
bowkeri, pulverulenta, and x ardense withstand 30 F for several nights.
Several of these never went dormant! I also have the same lack of

success in

raising seedlings - they seem to like going completely dry between
waterings, and I want to nurture them. My favorite is P. radulifolia. It

has

bloomed for 10 months straight and has been evergreen for the last 8

years.

Of course I live in coastal Southern California.
chuck Schwartz

Dear Boyce:
In the 2nd edition of BULBS I write about some 50 species with 8 or so
being illustrated. Many can be grown in USDA Zone 9, with just a

little

protection, but most, if not all, will not stand frost and

temperatures

at night in the 40 F range are needed. Thus it should be possible for
those who can provide some protection, to grow them. They are, in my
opinion, quite beautiful and it is interesting to think about crossing
some, especially the yellow species, with Pelargonium zonale or with

Ivy

Leaf species. The question of hardiness has not, to my knowledge, been
factually established. I would not be surprised at all to find them
hardier than supposed, but I would not think they would ever be

hardier

than, (or less hardy) than our common window box cultivars, which have
survived many winters for me in San Francisco. Cheers, John E. Bryan

Boyce Tankersley wrote:

Dear David:

This group of geophytes is absolutely new to me and I've read your

introduction with great interest. Great job! I don't suppose any of

these

have been trialed for winter hardiness in the USA?

Many thanks,

Boyce Tankersley
btankers@chicagobotanic.org

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