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An Italy-themed plant

BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,120
in Plants
A member of our Italian group died very unexpectedly last week and the group would like to get his widow a plant to demonstrate our respect and affection for John. There are only a few of us so I think anything but a small olive tree might be out of budget (I have yet to raise the question of how much they want to chip in). Also, with the xylella crisis olive trees from Italy are difficult to source.

Do folk have suggestions for other plants that have a name with a very obvious Italian connection. Is there an appropriately named rose for example, or anything else?

Thanks.
Rutland, England

Posts

  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,063
    edited October 2020
    Veronica? I don't know that many Italians, but two of them are called Veronica so it's a name I associate with Italy.
    Sorry to hear about your friend. I have had similar news this morning. 
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,063
    edited October 2020
    Also I have recently discovered that Aster amellus is known as 'Italian aster'. It's odd though, as the cultivar names all seem to be Germanic. That's a plant that will look good right now though. The one I've seen recently is Aster amellus 'Veilchenkonigin'. I'm not a huge fan of asters but this one was quite lovely. 
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,309
    An Alba rose would be an option maybe...linking to the Romans 

    https://www.trevorwhiteroses.co.uk/product-category/alba-roses/ 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,737
    There's a Dicentra named 'Amore'
    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,353
    Random thoughts - Arum italicum, Astrantia 'Roma', Rosa 'Monte Cassino', but if it were me, I would go for Rosa 'Tuscany' or 'Tuscany superb'.
    There must be lots of others, but those are all that come to mind right now :)
  • B3B3 Posts: 24,432
    edited October 2020
    Rosemary for remembrance and it's grown a lot in Italy and it won't be too expensive.
    There's a few with Italian themed names too
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • rachelQrtJHBjbrachelQrtJHBjb Posts: 819
    I like @Buttercupdays suggestion of the 'Tuscany' or 'Tuscany Superb' rose due its longevity. There's also Rosa 'Chianti' from David Austin. Or you could buy an outdoor grape vine.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 6,744
    Sorry for the loss of your friend. The problem with buying a potted rose, if you can get one at this time of year, is that it will probably not be in bloom by now and possibly be cut down ready for winter, so certainly not looking it’s best. She would need at least some knowledge of rose growing already to appreciate that and not think you have bought her a dodgy, dying plant. If you think she will be ok with that, Peter Beales has a potted pink/apricot repeat flowering fragrant hybrid tea called Donatella (as in Versace). A bit easier to care for, perhaps, than some the gorgeous once-blooming old roses mentioned already, like the Gallica Tuscanys/Chianti. Perennials will be dying off now too...

    I would be inclined to go with the small potted olive, sufficiently Mediterranean to count, even if it’s not a proven Italian specimen or the Rosmary B3 suggests.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 11,158
    It is a lovely idea, l would tend towards the Rosemary unless she is a keen gardener.
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