One of the handiest sources of information on dates of introduction to horticulture is the old RHS Dictionary of Gardening (not the New RHS Dictionary), which provides it (where known) for each species described (I must get myself a set for this reason alone). Of course this is the date of its first RECORD in horticulture, mostly British horticulture at that, not necessarily the precise date of introduction. To find dates of introduction to a specific area would be very difficult, unless there was a complete set of catalogues from an important general nurseryman. Not all plants come into cultivation through nurseries anyway, being passed around between friends. Cynthia's quest for information on Tradescantia (Setcreasa) pallida is interesting, because this is quite commonly grown in the UK as a houseplant (although remarkably hardy), but I see from the Plantfinder that only 3 nurseries stock it. It's one of those plants that appears on plant stalls at church fetes, etc, like Aloe aristata. Tony Avent's Plant Delight's Nursey is selling a fabulous new selection of "Setcreasa", 'Kartuz Giant'. It has broader, bigger leaves and seems to me to be brighter purple than the normal one. I got a plant of it in my annual order this year and have been most impressed. It was therefore introduced to British horticulture in 2005 by virtue of my having obtained one - and probably others did as well - but how long will it be before it appears in catalogues here? John Grimshaw Dr John M. Grimshaw Garden Manager, Colesbourne Gardens Sycamore Cottage Colesbourne Nr Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 9NP Website: http://www.colesbournegardens.org.uk/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Cynthia Mueller" <c-mueller@tamu.edu> > Her exact comment was..."... I've found dates of intro for about 475 plants grown or sold at Goodwood over the years or common in our region. A few very ordinary plants have defeated me - Setcreasea pallida Habranthus robustus, tulbaghia, for example. It matters because we try to handle only heirloom plants (Goodwood's absolute cut off date is 1930). > Do you know of any resource I would be likely to have missed? > I've used primary sources (catalogs etc) where possible, secondaries > (authors such as Wm Welch etc) where they oiffered verifiable, searchable sources." > > I hope this might bring another outburst of facts.... > > Cynthia Mueller >