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Watsonia

Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
in Plants
Does anyone grow this delicious beauty? I have seen plants of it for sale in local GCs but having bought one and lost it before it was planted in the garden, and I have never noticed it growing in any garden I have visited, I wonder if it is as miffy as it looks.
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  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Used to have a plant called W. flanagani, but it may well have been Gladiolus flanagani. Only ever seen the name on a plant at Powis Castle. They grow it against a south facing wall, so I assume this S.African plant is a little tender. It is related to Gladiolus.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
     I have used an incorrect name as the plant I am asking about is a woody shrub with white flowers in terminal clusters, a very upright growth form, sweetly scented, in flower now. Not dissimilar to a viburnum in flower shape. I will have to go back to the GC and check.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Don't think it can be Watsonia.
    Some Viburnum are flowering now...eg Viburnum farerri candidissimum.
    But it is not common.
    Never seen it for sale in a garden centre.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Could it be one of the Daphnes you're thinking of @Joyce Goldenlily?
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    My only worry about going back to the GC is I will end up buying one and they are not cheap, whatever it is. It is not a viburnum, I am familiar with them. I have watsonias growing almost wild in my garden, no idea why I thought of that name. They seed themselves with gay abandonment.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Fairygirl said:
    Could it be one of the Daphnes you're thinking of @Joyce Goldenlily?
    Suggest  Joyce Goldenlily that you do not buy it until you know more about it.

    There is a Daphne odora Walberton...similar name to Watsonia?
    but the flowers are pink.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited January 2023
    See above.
    Daphne bholua alba is evergreen with white flowers in winter.

    Scent is AMAZING.
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited January 2023
    Could be almost anything.

    Don't do anything until you have found out the name, or perhaps a picture.

    I suggest thet you revisit the garden centre.  Without any money or credit cards.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited January 2023
    @Joyce Goldenlily You say it isn't a Viburnum but just to add Viburnum bodnantense Charles Lamont is flowering in my garden at the moment pink pompom shaped flowers,almond scent. It does have upright growth but it is pink. There is also V bodnantense Dawn, flowers may be a paler pink. Not sure if I am confusing you even more sorry if I am.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    Thank you but not a daphne. I had daphne bohula and aurea marginata for a few years but they turned up their toes, they are so expensive I haven't replaced them.
    It is so frustrating, I really must get into the habit of writing names down when I see something interesting.
    I found a Pittosporum Tobira nana in the GC hospital corner, £15.00 reduced from £29.99 which I could not resist. It is a really well-grown bush but had a bit of a battering, several branches broken, etc. It will mend.
    I have never seen the place so empty of plants. I suppose they are waiting for the new season's stock to come in. Since Covid, the staff has been replaced and the new ones do not seem to have such an extensive horticultural knowledge as the old bunch had. When I asked if they had a Corylopsis in stock they didn't know what I was talking about. Perhaps I expect too much from them.
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