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Pontellia

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  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @nicismith787OyJT6daU That is a Coronilla in your photos. I have planted one before in a garden where the  soil was free draining. I an not suprised that it died this winter it hates wet which was directly followed by a freeze it is also short lived so I think you have done well.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    I agree with everyone who's said the shrub in your photo is a Coronilla, not a potentilla.  The habit of the shrub and its characteristic leaves make us certain.

    I also agree that wet feet followed by severe cold would be the reason for its death.  They are hardy to minus 10 provided the soil is dry enough not to freeze.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    As I said above, I thought it looked like coronilla, but @nicismith787OyJT6daU said the it had flowers shaped like buttercups. That doesn't fit coronilla. In any case I'm pretty sure it's now deceased, so she (or he, or they) can choose whatever they like as a replacement.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    True, @JennyJ.   :)

    I did just wonder whether there were two shrubs planted together and intertwined in the pot from which they were planted - there were two labels, one saying "Potentilla" (which would account for the flowers shaped like buttercups), and another saying "Yellow bush", which could be the coronilla, labelled by a nursery worker who couldn't remember the name...
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Songbird-2Songbird-2 Posts: 2,349
    When dug out, could it be potted on in a largish pot, I wonder, just to see what happens? The OP did say there was some green underneath the bark.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    That's a possibility @Liriodendron. It was very odd that there seemed to be two hand written labels on it in one of the pix. Coronillas certainly aren't reliably hardy, so the recent winter may have been too much for it, with the mild wet weather, then the sudden drop. Potentillas will cope with virtually anything, and regularly do, almost everywhere in the UK.
    I wonder if @Silver surfer could take a look.  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • My gardener told me when she saw it in spring “oh youve lost your pontellia as well I have (the gardener) and lots of her clients (the gardeners). The labels were put on by me to replace the original Southport flower show decade plus old laminated label. It must be where we live as we had the wettest year on record and have clay soil although well amended with compost. As everyone’s lost theirs. I was just not sure if it should show signs of growth after a drastic prune or not until next spring. Thank you for your advice especially jenny j. I have found a very similar shrub not the same pontellia as this one as its a very old named one and as someone said prob wont be produced anymore but RHS have found one for me thats near enough identical. It must be the photos or age of shrub and lack of proper shaping as we wanted it to fit in to close a particular gap in height difference from fence ours and neighbours thats making you think it isn’t a pontellia as RHS came back straight away with a pontellia that’s identical leaves and flowers but a slightly lighter yellow buttercup shaped flower than the one we had. Thanks for all your help bye for now.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited August 2023
    Please could someone tell me what a Pontellia is?
    If other gardeners have lost theirs are we back to Potentilla? They are one of the last shrubs into leaf in spring were they removed thinking they were dead?
    If I had been asked what is the plant in the photo I wouldn't have said a Potentilla
    A Coronilla wouldn't survive a wet cold winter.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    Yes, a very confusing thread. None of us think it is a Potentilla, which are bomb proof.
    No idea what a Pontellia is.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The yellow flowers in the original photos aren't potentilla either. 
    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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