Description
This is the plant grown in cultivation under this name, seed-raised but traceable to Morocco and the collection number SBL.525.
It make lovely darkish purple flowers early in the year, inclining towards the blue end of the spectrum rather than the red-end. It has been said by some that this is a synonym for R. ligustica, however we think that either this idea is incorrect or that the plant grown in cultivation under SBL.525 is not melanconiana! This is based on the flower colour (this plant is far darker than ligustica dn lacks its petal veins) as well as the colour of the anthers, which is bright chrome yellow, when diagnostically the anthers of ligustica are white or very very pale yellow.
Whatever the botanical debate, this is a very rewarding and floriferous species with richly coloured flowers made in quantity early in the spring season. Best potted, in a “standard” loam-based compost, under alpine glass as it flowers so early, but seemingly cold-hardy in the UK in a sunny, well drained site.
Introduced to our lists October 2024
