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Walter's Gift?

LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,065

I've got lots of those thuggish but useful/bomb proof standard pink Geranium x oxonianum plants in the garden of my flat, but I got a bit of a surprise when this one started flowering.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DoBc0rS4Rd6ZkEgxYukgs7aoDLGXheMPTUiZ1Y5Yza0=w890-h667-no

 

 I think that's really nice. Could it be the cultivar 'Walter's Gift'? I wonder if perhaps it was the original plant, and the ordinary pink ones are seedlings which haven't come true. Here's the standard type I have -

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/a64QXhwbC_lxm_8FuqujR3YsfhazEXnun-65tZvplrQ=w890-h667-no

 

 I'm kind of chuffed because I was actually actively looking for G. oxonianum cultivars which would be as useful as the pink ones but with classier, preferably white/marbled white flowers. And it turns out I already had one in the garden.

Posts

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,992

    I think I've lost Walter but I remember tan/brown markings on the leaves. Thank you for reminding me, Ill go and see if I can find and rescueimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,065

    The leaf markings are very faint but they're in deep shade. 'Trevor's White' is another possibility. They look whiter than the pictures suggest actually. Either way I'm taking basal cuttings now.

    I think the standard pink ones are Wargrave Pink, Edd (or Claridge Druce etc).

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,065

    Ooh, thanks Ed! I think that's it.

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,992

    I've found mineimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • paulk2paulk2 Posts: 184

    I'm really pleased that you posted this thread WillDB and replied Edd as I've also recently been trying to identify a Geranium oxonianum which I bought from a NGS open garden ~3 years ago and was told at the time that it probably was a Walter's Gift. Having seen Edd's image of the leaf markings, I am now positive that my plant it is also a versicolor.

    I've taken seeds from the purchased plant and propagated several more and the offspring are very similar, but I do notice a marked colour change (more pink) depending on the amount of light each plant receives. Interestingly this also happens on the parent plant as well.

    A cracking plant non the less!

    Regards Paul.

     

     

  • rosemummyrosemummy Posts: 2,010

    how gorgeous, i want one! how tall does it get?

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,992

    They're a promiscuous lot aren't they. I've stopped worrying about which is which.



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • paulk2paulk2 Posts: 184
    rosemummy wrote (see)

    how gorgeous, i want one! how tall does it get?

     

    mine grow no more than 1ft in height and have ~2ft spread.

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