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Isoplexis Isabelliana Bella - how hardy?

NollieNollie Posts: 7,052
in Plants
I was admiring this on a Chelsea garden, think it was Chris Beardshaws. Bella is a new cultivar by Hillier, the normal Isoplexis Isabelliana is said to be ‘half-hardy’ and ‘in need of winter protection’ but can’t find anything specific on Bella. Does anyone know if it is hardier?

It would be perfect for the back of my oranges and lemons border, but my winter temps can go down to -8 and that border is exposed to strong south-easterlies and doesn’t get much sun in winter either...
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.

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  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,145
    I've found this from Hillier's which doesn't mention hardiness
    https://www.hillier.co.uk/garden-centres/news/new-chelsea-plant-2019-isoplexis-isabelliana-bella/ 

    and this from Suttons which says it is hardy but to -5C
    https://www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Perennial-Plants/All-Perennial-Plants/Isoplexis-Plant---Bella_MH6093.htm#262977

    It's a selection of a plant native to the Canaries so I would treat "hardy" with a large pinch of salt and take steps to shelter it in winter and/or take divisions as I doubt it will come true from seed.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,052
    Thanks Obelixx, I saw the hillier but missed the suttons info. Borderline in my garden then. I suspect that is not much hardier than its country foxglove cousins.


    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,145
    I grew normal foxgloves in Belgium with no bovver and there a spell of -20C was not extreme.   The perennial foxgloves didn't do well in those temps tho.   

    Given this is a new introduction it's likely to be expensive so I suggest you wait a while and maybe try another plant in that colour range.  There are some lovely coppery bearded irises that should love that situation and then maybe some heleniums to follow?  You'd get the colour without the wussiness.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 16,695
    I would not regard any Isoplexis as hardy here. Illumination pink (a cross, said to be hardier) was not hardy.  Too expensive for me as single year bedding plants.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,052
    Wow, -20C! Bet you’re glad you moved to France then!

    Interestingly, I found a site that said the standard Isoplexis Isabelliana was hardy to -7 so maybe they are just being a bit cautious about Bella putting it at -5.

    £20 for 3x9cm pots, so yes, a bit pricey but not so outrageous. I will have to wait until its a bit more widely available anyway, I think, unless suttons will post abroad. There are some dahlias filling in just now but they don't suit the rest of the loose planting. Not sure there is enough sun there to bake irises, heleniums would work.... buuut Obeliiiiixx (whiny voice) I want Bella!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,145
    I understand Nollie.  When I started converting that cow pasture to a garden in Belgium I spent a fortune on wonderful plants choosing specials rather than ordinary.  I soon learned that regular periods of -15C by day for a week or 3 in Jan/Feb and worse at night was seriously damaging.

    I learned to go for good do-ers so do please, think again, and go for those coppery irises and heleniums.  Your neighbours won't have them in all likelihood and then, when Bella has been proven and comes down in price, you can take a more reasonable risk.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,052
    Morning, Obelixx,

    The Irisis wouldn't get baked enough in that spot at the back, but will definitely consider Heleniums. I will have to wait anyway as mail order plants don’t travel well here outside the dormant season. Rubbish couriers leave them languishing in the warehouse as they can’t be bothered to come here unless they have sufficient other deliveries to make, regardless of the promised delivery schedule  :#
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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