Merrybells

DampGardenMan

I've tried to grow Uvularia grandiflora, but never had any success. They flower fine for the first year, but that's the last I see of them! I had them in a fairly deep good soil in a woody bed under the shade of trees. That was in my last garden. Now I'm on a damp (sometimes wet!) slightly acid silty soil and I want to try again ... but am I wasting my money? Has anybody had any success growing these? What sort of soil? What sort of aspect?

nutcutlet

Mine have just come up for the third year but haven't increased at all. Dry and alkaline here. I think they may be in trouble this year as their main shade tree came down in winter

Lizzie27

I was really pleased to see mine come up again, just this week (new last year). They're in a shadyish acid bed near to a pieris. I had heard that they can be tricky to grow.

punkdoc

Never seem to last here.
I have just bought some more, and will give them a last go, in a moist shady bed.

DampGardenMan

Thanks all - sounds like you have similar problems to me, though at least yours come back for a second year, I've never managed that. But I will try again with my "new" acid soil. I wonder what one has to do to get them to spread!

@punkdoc - which variety did you go for?

punkdoc

U.grandiflora.

nutcutlet

punkdoc said:

U.grandiflora.

Yes, Merrybells was new to me, and surprising, they don't look like Merry Bells, much more refined

DampGardenMan

Beth Chatto Gardens (and others) sell Uvularia grandiflora 'pallida' - has anybody tried that?

Yviestevie

Good article on them here.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3347883/Merrybells-How-to-grow.html

DampGardenMan

Yviestevie said:

Good article on them here.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/3347883/Merrybells-How-to-grow.html

Very useful, thank-you.

DampGardenMan

Finally got some, two U. grandiflora, and one U. g. 'Pallida'. Very charming, they look good in my woodland bed. Fingers crossed for next year!