Description
(formerly Merendera montana Norman Barrett)
This has been selected for its much deeper and more intense flower colour, in a species which is often pale pink, or even white. In addition this form has a substantially smaller white throat region than paler forms, thus intensifying the dark effect and contrast. The flowers are slightly larger and have wider petals.
This arrived originally simply as a ‘good form’ of what was then called Merendera montana, from Mike and Polly Stone ex their Askival garden in Scotland. Originally offered by us simply as “Dark Form” this has since been positively identified and re-titled. This name was not given by ourselves and I do not know the story, or the origins of the clone, only that it is a good do-er and a much improved colour form of the basic species, a native of the Pyrenees and nearby mountain ranges, in s.w. France and n.e. Spain. Excellent in the garden in the UK in a well-drained loam-based site or compost in full sun. Fully hardy and not needing an excessively hot, dry summer rest in cultivation.
