The Ideas Genie Community Forum

Plants => Plant ID questions => Topic started by: ideasguy on July 06, 2008, 05:28:17 PM

Title: RHS Garden Hyde Hall - Dry Garden- Puzzle No. 3
Post by: ideasguy on July 06, 2008, 05:28:17 PM

I couldnt find the label for this lovely little plant
It has snapdragon type flowers

Location: The Dry garden
The puzzle is the white plant located at the centre of this photo:
(http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/HydeHallpuzzles/100_0180.jpg)

and heres a close up:
(http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/HydeHallpuzzles/100_0181.jpg)

another plant, I think the same variety - close up:
(http://www.flowergenie.co.uk/HydeHallpuzzles/100_0186.jpg)

Title: Re: RHS Garden Hyde Hall - Dry Garden- Puzzle No. 3
Post by: Tom on July 06, 2008, 10:18:32 PM

I think this is a perennial snapdragon possibly Anthirrinum molle.  Tom.

Title: Re: RHS Garden Hyde Hall - Dry Garden- Puzzle No. 3
Post by: ideasguy on July 06, 2008, 11:27:01 PM

I'd say thats spot on, Tom. Many thanks.

I bought a copy of whatever plant lists were available at the Hyde Hall Info shop.
They only had two lists in stock:
1) The A-Z Dry garden Plant List £1
2) The Robinson Garden £0.50

In (1), two Antirrhinum's are listed:
A. molle
and
A. hispanicum subsp. hispanicum 'Roseum'       
which a surf on the net informs me is Spanish snapdragon, and soft pink
http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Perennials/A_files/Aj-Aq.Images/antirrhinum_hispanicum_roseum.htm
another interesting plant!
so again, that would confirm that you are correct.

That A. mollis is a great little plant, a real beauty, so I'll be looking out for seed.
I did some more research. I added A. molle to the Master Database, then edited the plant name, clicked the RHS button for more info. I do that to ascertain if a plant has the AGM.
It doesnt. However, I found another interesting variety:
Antirrhinum molle pink-flowered                                                       

Do you grow A. molle Tom?

Title: Re: RHS Garden Hyde Hall - Dry Garden- Puzzle No. 3
Post by: Tom on July 07, 2008, 02:02:14 PM

I have not tried it here in Inverness but grew it on the Isle of Skye in a raised bed with sharp drainage and full sun. I apologise if I am telling you something you already know but I find that most plants with grey or silver foliage are sun-lovers that require free drainage and full sun, this is not easily achieved on the Isle of skye with 1.2 metres of rain a year. Our way round that was to build large raised bed with drystone walls and fill them with a mixture of compost and sharp sand. Then you can grow allsorts of exciting things.

Title: Re: RHS Garden Hyde Hall - Dry Garden- Puzzle No. 3
Post by: ideasguy on July 07, 2008, 04:00:30 PM

Hey, no need to apologise Tom.
All information is gratefully acknowledged.
We've been discussing alpines in another thread, and your idea of a raised bed with drystone walls is very topical.
Needs a bit of construction work, and a bit of planning.
I imagine it would be a great thing for disabled folk, or indeed when we find bending in the garden too much. We dont all have Andre's cast iron back with a hinge  :D