The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Perennials => Topic started by: GabrielParis on May 21, 2012, 06:22:22 AM

Title: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GabrielParis on May 21, 2012, 06:22:22 AM
Hello all MGS members.
This is my very first post, since I have joined the MGS Greece last couple of weeks and joined the forum yesterday night... I am very happy to join this fabulous group.
I had heard of it when I first saw Jacqueline Tyrwhitt's book in my family in law's house, in Greece. Then I contacted Denise Harvey who published the book to visit Sparoza garden, which I did in early May.

I currently have a garden in Nafplio (Peloponnese), not irrigated at all except with the grey water when we spend some time there, but I am spending most of my time in France, where I currently design gardens, before building and maintaining them, after studies at Ecole du Paysage de Versailles.

This first post is dedicated to an Asteraceae that likes to invade the garden in Greece, though being beautiful when the sun hits the pappus.
As I have not been able to insert a file in this post, I am leaving a link to my blog's article http://jardinscosmopolites.blogspot.fr/2012/05/typical-flower-of-greek-hillsides-wild.html (http://jardinscosmopolites.blogspot.fr/2012/05/typical-flower-of-greek-hillsides-wild.html)

This sery has been taken during the same day, except the first one, 2 or 3 days earlier.

Have a good day
Gabriel

PS : I finally could find the "insert file" option !
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: John J on May 21, 2012, 09:00:05 AM
Amazing photos, Gabriel! Can I say welcome to the forum on behalf of the Cyprus members.
As you say this plant is very attractive but those seeds from the large 'dandelion clock' get everywhere and it pops up in the most unexpected places, usually where you don't want it!
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GabrielParis on May 21, 2012, 10:24:31 AM
Thank you John for your quick response and you nice message.
I agree, this is the "beauty and the beast" flower, always where we do'nt expect or want it... However.
A big hello to Cyprus and talk to you soon.
Gabriel
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: oron peri on May 21, 2012, 01:47:21 PM
Welcome Gabriel,
Good to have you with us!
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GabrielParis on May 21, 2012, 01:49:31 PM
Thank you very much for your warm welcome !
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: MikeHardman on May 21, 2012, 09:47:04 PM
Hello and welcome Gabriel.
I wish you many happy and fruitful postings here!
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GabrielParis on May 28, 2012, 03:10:44 PM
Thank you very much Mike.
Such a warm welcome from everyone !
Gabriel
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GRJoe on May 31, 2012, 11:57:20 AM
I saw this annual this year, now thanks to this post I know its name. Here it is... what is left of it from between Carpobroutos spp. By the way, its the only specimen I spotted on the sea side (Glyfada-Athens) where I had plenty of time this year to walk around. Not particularly invasive in this area.
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: Fleur Pavlidis on May 31, 2012, 12:23:36 PM
I was surprised to find Tragopogon under annuals because the plant is so difficult to pull up that I had assumed it was a perennial - as you'll understand my garden is full of them. So I looked it up and learnt that the immoveable root is edible under the name of salsify. I suppose if times get really hard....

Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: oron peri on May 31, 2012, 12:33:19 PM
I saw this annual this year, now thanks to this post I know its name. Here it is... what is left of it from between Carpobroutos spp. By the way, its the only specimen I spotted on the sea side (Glyfada-Athens) where I had plenty of time this year to walk around. Not particularly invasive in this area.

Joe

Your plant is definatly not a Tragopogon but an Allium that lost its head, [from section Allium.]
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: oron peri on May 31, 2012, 12:41:30 PM
I was surprised to find Tragopogon under annuals because the plant is so difficult to pull up that I had assumed it was a perennial - as you'll understand my garden is full of them. So I looked it up and learnt that the immoveable root is edible under the name of salsify. I suppose if times get really hard....



Fleur you are right, Tragopogon are either Biennials or Perennials.
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GRJoe on May 31, 2012, 01:33:11 PM
The fact that it is biennial and/or perrenial is good news to me: I can hope to spot it again another time when it flowers. I am sure I saw one there it must be very near the allium then... just one. Cheers, j
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: Alisdair on May 31, 2012, 03:51:29 PM
... and we'll move this posting over to the Perennials section
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GRJoe on June 05, 2012, 05:10:55 PM
Dear Oron, tell me this time I've got the right suspect  8)

If so, what to do with a few seeds I collected?... conserve them and sow next spring?
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: oron peri on June 05, 2012, 05:23:02 PM
Joe,
Bingo! ;)
Just keep them in a dry place, [not in a plastic bag].
Sow the seeds mid october, they germinate very easy after just a few days. it will flower in the second spring.
Title: Re: Tragopogon porrifolius
Post by: GRJoe on June 05, 2012, 05:42:28 PM
ouf  :P  it was 1-2 meters from the Allium of the other photo!
ok, just stored in small tin box for next Oct. Thx Oron!