Priory Picture Post # 17

Erodium x kolbianum ‘Natasha’ is a favorite of mine – and a fine name to say out loud.  I first came across  it when working in an Alpine nursery and was hooked;  pretty, veined flowers with two dark patches, raised on tall, delicate stems above a small mound of glaucous, finely cut foliage.  Not a particularly well known plant and, though I do occasionally see it in garden centres,  I can’t help but wonder why it isn’t more popular.  Anyway, less words, more pictures.  Here it is:

November 2011

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November 2011

Oops.  Sorry.  Let me just shoo that fly away.

November 2011

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November 2011

There.  That’s better.  Pretty flower isn’t it?  And what is so impressive about Natasha is that it just goes on and on and on.  The above photos were taken a few days ago.

June 2011

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June 2011

But it has been flowering since at least May.

July 2011

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July 2011

It doesn’t spread and provide ground cover but plant it in a sunny, well drained spot (or pot) and it’ll quite happily flower for months on end.  You can propagate easily from cuttings (in my experience it doesn’t seem to self seed) and you don’t need to deadhead – though it looks a little tidier if you do.

September 2011 – not deadheaded

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September 2011 - not deadheaded

I like a plant that just gets on with it – without any fuss.  Don’t you?  All that Natasha does require is a little admiration.