Which Disporum longistylum 'Night Heron' is the best

[JohnH]

It seems every nursery has a new and improved uniquely named 'Night Heron' seedling these days.

The version I have been growing for the last few years is rather uninspiring, largely green, never flowers and is disappointingly short. Maybe I was sent the wrong plant!
Can anyone recommend one of the new 'improved' D. longistylum please?

[Chad]

I was never sure if the original 'Night Heron' was a clone or all the plants from one seed collection. Certainly in The UK it was grown from seed and the seedlings may have been, on average, less striking than the original.

But amongst the 'not quite so good' were occasional plants that were striking.

The only one I've seen in person is Nick's ‘Bagheera’, but there haven't been any for sale when I've visited.

'Night Heron' sets so much seed that, were I better organised, I'd grow several hundred and select the better forms. After just a few generations something truly special should turn up.

I have similar thoughts on Polygonatum 'Betberg'.

I need to get organised!

Chad

[JohnH]

Thanks Chad, it seems I may have inadvertently picked up one of the dud potluck seedlings. Such a shame that a decent clone is so hard to find.
I am now on Nick's waiting list.

Edulis have a pic of a selected large seedling called 'Night Lark', but again unfortunately out of stock. Has anyone tried this one?

[JohnH]

A bit of a connected follow up. How do you keep sawfly away from your Polygonatum?

I haven't grown them for over 20 years, but Chad's mention of 'Betberg' has tempted me back.
I have just ordered one from a new supplier (everyone else seems to be out of stock!), not sure what will arrive :|
Do sawfly lay their eggs in compost or on the leaves of plants?

[Chad]

I don't understand sawfly.

Phymatocera aterrima is specific to Polygonatum, and not happy, apparently, on Polygonatum verticillatum or kingianum.

So how does it get to my garden when there aren't any other Polygonatum plants for miles?

My plants are potted, so I pick off the grubs when I see them. Some years I don't see grubs at all.

The Beth Chatto Gardens recommend beating the plants daily to dislodge the grubs. I haven't tried that.

The RHS suggest living with them.

Since they hit after the plants have flowered, you could cut them to the ground and burn the grub infested growth. That would dramatically reduce the pest load for the next year.

Nemasys Fruit & Veg Protection nematodes work on Gooseberry Sawfly, so would probably work.

Tony Avent [Plant Delights] has a video on Polygonatum, I can't remember what he recommended, and 20 minutes is too long for me to re-watch it.

Do ducks work?

Chad

ps. Eggs laid in the stem of the Polygonatum, pupae overwinter in the soil.

[charlie]

I get them every year but as they dont seem to affect growth or flowering I largely ignore them

polygonatum sawfly 0008 by charliepridham, on Flickr

[Paul S]

A cocktail of sawfly, snails and, especially, drought mean these are firmly off the agenda for me. I proudly marched home with one of Tom H's red flowered jobs and it barely lasted a month.

[JohnH]

Excellent links again Chad, thank you.
I think the best way forward with Polygonatum, for me, will be large pots and a sharp pair of secateurs. At least that way I can hide the damage if it becomes too unsightly.
I must remember to discard the compost and rinse the roots before potting them on.
It will be interesting to see how long it takes before the sawfly sniff them out.

[JohnH]

A bit of a connected follow up. How do you keep sawfly away from your Polygonatum?

I haven't grown them for over 20 years, but Chad's mention of 'Betberg' has tempted me back.
I have just ordered one from a new supplier (everyone else seems to be out of stock!), not sure what will arrive :|
Do sawfly lay their eggs in compost or on the leaves of plants?

Unfortunately 'Betberg' has apparently gone missing in transit. Another phantom Ebay order from a well known nursery in County Durham this time :roll:
I have found one other source (wrong time of year?) but it is costing 3 x more.
Having looked at some of the mind blowing prices for the rarer forms, this may still be a bargain.

[Chad]

Hoo House have Betberg back in stock.

Chad