Please can somebody tell me what this plant is - I want it!

Last post 16-05-2012 8:32 PM by jon jon . 11 replies.

• 09/05/2012 10:13 AM
  Billy B Location: Essex Joined on: 08 May 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact IMG_0592.jpg Hi there. This might be a relatively easy one but I am stumped! This is a rather attractive spring flowering plant (I suspect perenial) which I have seen in St. James's Square. It has been flowering religiously now for 3 weeks which, at this time of year, would make it a valuable addition to my garden! Thanks. Bill

• 09/05/2012 10:35 AM	In reply to
  Billy B Location: Essex Joined on: 08 May 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact IMG_0593.jpg Here is another photo showing the flowers slightly better.

• 09/05/2012 11:41 AM	In reply to
  madmuncher Location: Nottinghamshire Joined on: 20 Mar 2010 Posts: 140	Reply | Contact It looks very much like species from lupin family. Here is something to see... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupinus_arboreus ...or try to google 'yellow lupins'.

• 09/05/2012 12:13 PM

  In reply to

  Silver surfer Location: South Wales. U.K. Joined on: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 1,392

  Reply | Contact Welcome Billy B. With trifoliate leaves I do not believe it is in the Lupinus genus. http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-US&biw=1152&bih=555&tbm=isch&tbnid=FYfUR3XkO6SOgM:&imgrefurl=http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Html/Lupinus_arboreus.htm&docid=m4gL1-94ROA6xM&imgurl=http://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/03030800-0b07-490a-8d04-0605030c0f01/media/Images/Lupinus_arboreus/lupinus%252520arboreus23.jpg&w=900&h=600&ei=SVKqT82gHdHK8QPFv5HtBA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=464&vpy=141&dur=3403&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=153&ty=86&sig=116959004588595198529&page=1&tbnh=111&tbnw=144&start=0&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0,i:78 . Looks like Thermopsis sp. Not sure which one! https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Thermopsis&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1280&bih=647&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=11CqT4GiNvTV4QSb-tzNCA

• 09/05/2012 04:15 PM	In reply to
  Billy B Location: Essex Joined on: 08 May 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact I think you've got it. The plant is a dead ringer for Thermopsis caroliniana syn T.villosa which I have found at West Country Lupins (https://www.westcountrylupins.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Various_P_Z_84.html#a1324). Thanks for your help!! Bill

• 10/05/2012 01:25 AM	In reply to
  courierdude Location: cambs/suffolk border Joined on: 14 Feb 2012 Posts: 211	Reply | Contact lupinus arboreus? energy follows thought

• 10/05/2012 12:43 PM	In reply to
  Silver surfer Location: South Wales. U.K. Joined on: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 1,392	Reply | Contact Glad to have helped you Bill. However, you may need to check carefully to see which Thermopsis  it is, by touching the one in the park! Some have downy flowers and  hairless stems while others have foliage with silky hairs. etc etc. It is not always easy from pictures! I cannot imagine why it is not more commonly grown here.

• 10/05/2012 01:16 PM

  In reply to

  Billy B Location: Essex Joined on: 08 May 2012 Posts: 5

  Reply | Contact Thanks. I have looked at a number of different varieties on-line but most tend to be quite short (40cm). Whereas the one in the park is a good 1m tall. The leaves are smooth but there are very small hairs on the stems, but you have to be really looking to see them!  I am quite surprised that I have not seen this before, given that plants that give a good show in the May-June gap are few and far between. Speaking of which the nursery I listed has a good selection of Geums as well, so I have ordered some of them too. Bill

• 14/05/2012 02:53 PM	In reply to
  JF Location: Bedfordshire Joined on: 13 May 2012 Posts: 2	Reply | Contact  Have you tried asking thepeople responsible for maintaining St James' Square?. The local authority or parks department would surely know. A quick phone call might get you the answer.

• 14/05/2012 08:24 PM	In reply to
  jon jon Location: stratford on avon Joined on: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 284	Reply | Contact I have this plant in my garden Thermopsis Caroliniana grown easily from seed but can`t remember where i obtained the seeds from,

• 15/05/2012 11:55 AM	In reply to
  Billy B Location: Essex Joined on: 08 May 2012 Posts: 5	Reply | Contact Thanks for your post. I have managed to buy two young plants and have put them in the ground. I was however wondering whether it is possible to propogate these plants as they are not freely available. Since you grow this already, do you have any experience of this?

• 16/05/2012 08:32 PM	In reply to
  jon jon Location: stratford on avon Joined on: 18 Sep 2009 Posts: 284	Reply | Contact They will readily set seed,easy to sow a few seeds in a small pot,then thin to leave a strong one,in late summer or in the spring