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A fellow plot holder was given a packet of seeds when their friend went to Austria as a gift.

After a long protracted wait, the seeds yielded a half a dozen plants this year and I said. Leave them until they go to seed and let us see if we can get more.

He did so and today I gathered a load of seeding ends of the flowers and have put them (as I do with all my gathered seeds) in a paper bag to keep until next year.

Has any one else had success with these? Any advice?

I should have to say, its not a plant I particularly like.  Years ago I bought a plant from a garden centre.  When it flowered, I thought is that it? pulled it up and chucked it in the compost bin.

My only other memory of the plant is back in the late 60's the local pub landlord singing 'idle swine, idle swine'. ;D

valmarg

I remember once climbing up a mountain to see one and being rather disappointed when I arrived.   I rather prefer gentian.

Was given a plant by some friends, & planted it in my rockery. It died in the ice and snow we had - huh?

I agree it's an odd looking plant and doesn't really earn it's keep in my small garden, but as mine was a present, I may have to buy another and try again......

I think what I was trying to say earlier is that edelweiss is one of life's big disappointments.

You heard the song from Sound of Music (I've never actually seen the film ;D).  My word did it bull up the plant, made it the 'must have'.  Bought the plant from the garden centre, and when it flowered a cross between 'not impressed and yeuk'.

I agree with you Digeroo the gentian in all its forms is far superior.  If you want any seed of gentian aescelepidia (willow gentian) just let me know and its yours.

valmarg

I agree that close up they are not a pretty flower but among other plants, from a distance, they can add something extra to a rockery or flower bed.

http://uk.images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=mcafee&va=edelweiss&sz=all

I can see a potential use as rockery ground cover, but how quick is it to propagate?

Quote from: valmarg on September 22, 2010, 22:37:16
You heard the song from Sound of Music (I've never actually seen the film ;D).  My word did it bull up the plant, made it the 'must have'.  Bought the plant from the garden centre, and when it flowered a cross between 'not impressed and yeuk'.

I agree with you Digeroo the gentian in all its forms is far superior.  If you want any seed of gentian aescelepidia (willow gentian) just let me know and its yours.

valmarg

My daughter watched a tape of the film three or four times a day, every day, when she first arrived, running it through, rewinding it, and watching it again straight off. After a while I worked out that it was because the characters had to run away from the soldiers, just like she had. She was 11, the US Navy had rescued her from the fighting after a coup in Freetown, and she arrived very badly traumatised.

Gentian is nicer; if I ever have a rockery again, I'd fancy a carpet of small ones.

To get back to your orginal query, PH. having been guilty of negative comments, I'll try and redress the balance, and give you a bit of positive.

Bearing in mind that your friend's seed is not particularly 'fresh', ie this year's seed, I would fill a quarter seed tray with multipurpose compost, cover with a layer of coarse grit and sprinkle the seed on top.  Then leave the tray outside all winter to bear the brunt of the English Winter, get frosted (or vernalised), and see what happens in Spring.

When in their natural habitat these plants readily self seed, so you need to treat them quite harshly as mentioned above.  They seem to manage all right.  I don't think they need propagators and mollycoddling. ;D

valmarg