LEWISIA.

 Lewisia.

All Lewisia are exclusively from northwestern North America belonging to the Portulaceae family, there are about 20 small perennials in the family divided into two groups evergreen and summer deciduous.

Some of the Lewisia to look out for seed raising are L. brachycalyx. L. cotyledon, L. kelloggii, L. nevadensis, L. oppositifolia, L. rediviva, L. tweedyi, L. pygmaea, all are listed on Bicon and permitted into Australia. There are quite a few more not on this list that are also permitted, you may like to try them. Always make sure the second part of the name, the variety, is on seed list and then the hybrid name, otherwise seed will be sent back to sender. Seed needs to be grown under cover, not out in the weather as they will get too cold and wet, once potted up you can easily grow them out in the weather planted slightly on their side. Just watch out for frosts I don't think the plants will cope too well with that. 

Lewisia longipetala Little Plumb from New Zealand Alpine Garden Soc seedex.

Lewisia longipetala Little Mango from Ken Gillanders                  

Lewisia tweedi Album AGS seed 2018 in the crevice garden planted slightly on their sides.

Lewisia Trough in my garden, these Lewisia are all grown out in the weather at a slight angle so that the water does not sit on their crowns, they have no protection in winter. It gets cold, but we do not get frosts, the leaves all get sad but are quickly replaced as the plants come into flower. 

Lewisia tweedyi Yellow

Lewisia tweedyi pale pink to apricot flowers, there is much variation in seed grown Lewisia tweedyi

Lewisia tweedyi yellow in Cyril Lafong's Glass House Scotland, note the tools for removing spent flowers and old leaves.

Trough at Cyril Lafong's Garden full of Lewisia tweedyi.

Lewisia tweedyi Pink in Cyril Lafong's Glass House Scotland different plants top and bottom photo.
This glass house was to die for, talk about magnificent.

Lewisia in John Massey's Ashwood Nursery Garden and in a wall below, where Lewisia are very much at home from winter wet.

An old trough planted out with Lewisia hybrids.
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Stock Plants in yellow and orange in the glass house at Ashwood Nursery, where we were allowed in as visitors.

Lewisia plants for sale at Ashwood Nursery.

Lewisia brachycalyx a photo borrowed from Nevada Native Plants Soc. Thank you. My plant was looking so beautiful and I thought I will take a photo tomorrow, but it rained heavily overnight and was ruined, the next day I was reminded of the old saying (Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, as tomorrow may never come) so true. This lewisia is relatively easy from seed and their flowers can be bright pink through to white. 

Lewisia nevadensis comes in several colours, it is very similar to L. brachycalyx. Mine has not flowered yet, I picked it up off the bunfight table from Verity and Palmiro. This photo is curtesy of the Colorado Wildflowers. Both Lewisia brachycalyx and Lewisia nevadensis grow outside perfectly well, except the flowers can be ruined by the rain.

Don't forget we have a meeting this Saturday 26th October at 8pm, we will be replaying Ian Youngs article on Erythronium, he sent us quite a few years ago, there is much handy information especially on seed collecting and raising, as that is the only way you are ever going to get a drift of Erythronium's in your garden, fresh seed collected in your garden or locally is best as it is already acclimatised to our climate. Our meetings are held at the Olinda Community Hall, 79-81 Olinda Monbulk Road, Olinda,  next door to the Olinda Swimming pool.