Monday, September 15, 2014

Plant Portrait - Calceolaria mexicana



Calceolaria mexicana is annual. I got it from my friend Glen who grew it from seed. Last year, I put the few plants I had in a container, and it was not particularly successful. This year, I was once again given a few small plants which I decided to put directly in the ground, and they did much better. Glen tells me that it comes back from seed year after year. He has some nice drifts in his own garden.





When you let it self-seed in the garden, the tricky part is to learn to recognize it in the spring, when it is just sprouting, in order not to weed it out. I have it in full sun where it is doing very well. I read, however, that it is recommended for shade. I checked with Glen and he says his is growing in half day sun.  His plants that were in shadier spots did not self-seed. I put mine in full sun where it seems to be quite happy. Of course, we had a rather cool summer here.  That might explain why it did well in full sun.  It is obviously adaptable. My suspicion is that the hotter the situation, the more shade it likes.



It is an undemanding plant that brightens up any corner you put it in. I read that it is best to seed it directly where you want to grow it. The yellow is quite attractive. It is so bright, that in photos it tends to appear rather washed out. It is long blooming, still covered with flowers at the time of writing in mid-September. It is about 30 cm high and has been blooming since June. I think it is a good addition to the garden.







12 comments:

  1. Hope that the plants self seeds for you for next year. It looks like a very nice plant.

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    1. I hope so too. I will try to save a few seeds to spread around next year in case it has not self seeded.

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  2. Nifty blossoms, in such a happy colour -- like a plant full of party balloons!

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  3. That sounds a super addition to your garden, I like plants that seed themselves about.

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    1. I like them too. It is easier to remove extra plants than to coddle new reluctant ones!

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  4. Hello Alain ... it is such a cute cheerful plant ... I hope it does self seed for you as well
    What is that plant next to it ? and artemisia of some type ? .. I like it !
    Joy : )

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    1. It looks like artemisia but in fact it is regular culinary sage. Strangely it hardly ever blooms. I have a friend whose sage blooms every summer. There must be some varieties that bloom more than others.

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  5. I must say that you grow a lot of interesting and unusual things Alain. I like the reddish stems on this plant and yellow is always a happy flower color. I wouldn't mind trying to grow some myself.

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    1. Hi Jennifer,
      If I manage to get seeds (they are not yet ripe as far as I can tell) I can send you some if you are interested.

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  6. Hi, Alain!
    This is unusual plant and I hope you will be able to see it in spring or to collect some seeds. It's good that Calceolaria can be self seeding plant as well.

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  7. Hello Alain, I had something with bright yellow flowers and same bloom shape that appeared in the grass in the summer when I hadn't quite got round to mowing it. It most likely wasn't this plant as I couldn't think how it would make its way into the garden. It looks a lovely, cheerful plant.

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