On Gardeners World last night there was mention of a Solomon seal which was supposed to be more resistant to sawfly. Has anyone got this type and is it really more resistant?
@Poppypuss I grow four different Solomon's Seal. This year they have all suffered. I always find it difficult squishing the grubs as this plant is the only one they feed on. I thought the one they referred to is the common form which I grow. I cut it back yesterday as it looked like lace curtains.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
No idea which one we have as it has been in our garden for decades. It "disappeared" for many years and then in the last 5 years has been back, in the same place. We get it in flower and then about 2 weeks later the sawfly takes the leaves....but we have had the flowers.
Just been out to the garden and remembered Polygonatum stenophyllum Maxin. A plant without a label on an NGS plant stall I was curious. I only found out it's name after it was mentioned on Chelsea Flower Show. It was featured in the garden 'A letter from a million years past'. Endangered in the Jiri Mountains in South Korea. It's growth is spindley and grows up to three feet, never been affected by saw fly in the six years I have grown it. Very narrow leaves and not a star plant. It is what it is planted with that makes it become interesting.Under a tree with Geranium Lily Lovell,Various Hellebores, Asarum Europaeum, Polystichum setiferum it and some welcome height.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Thanks for your feedback. I’m a bit torn really. I hate squashing the sawfly so I’m considering ripping the plants out and growing something else in their place for next year. But they are so lovely but they get munched. ☹️
@Poppypuss I know exactly what you mean. A couple of years ago I planted P Betburg. It is very slow to bulk up and is full of holes. I will continue to grow them yes they get eaten but I wouldn't be without them. The rhizomes are also interesting, they can cope with drought which is a bonus.
I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
Some areas seem to have more problems with them than others. I've grown the bog standard S.Seal in several gardens but never been troubled by it. I don't think there's much you can do other than picking off the caterpillars when you see them, but that could be a thankless task.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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Martin Luther KingI only found out it's name after it was mentioned on Chelsea Flower Show. It was featured in the garden 'A letter from a million years past'. Endangered in the Jiri Mountains in South Korea.
It's growth is spindley and grows up to three feet, never been affected by saw fly in the six years I have grown it. Very narrow leaves and not a star plant. It is what it is planted with that makes it become interesting.Under a tree with Geranium Lily Lovell,Various Hellebores, Asarum Europaeum, Polystichum setiferum it and some welcome height.
It is very slow to bulk up and is full of holes. I will continue to grow them yes they get eaten but I wouldn't be without them. The rhizomes are also interesting, they can cope with drought which is a bonus.
I don't think there's much you can do other than picking off the caterpillars when you see them, but that could be a thankless task.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...