A name, please?

Good guy · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:58 am Post subject: A name, please?

Here's a puzzler. It is perennial, has spikes of blue flowers in spring and thrives in semi shade, growing on little more than rubble. In this situation it reaches about 50cm in height. It's roots are stoloniferous (if that's the right word - like an iris, or ginger). It is great ground cover.

I got it as a root cutting from a long-abandoned garden near here, years ago. The only other place I've seen it was growing under a tree at Baronscourt, Co Tyrone, when they had a garden centre. The worker I asked about it didn't know what it was.

Silver surfer · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:05 am Post subject:

Trachystemon orientalis.

Quote wiki.... commonly known as Abraham-Isaac-Jacob, is a perennial herb of the family Boraginaceae. Native to eastern Europe, it is frequently grown as an ornamental for its early blue-violet flowers and large leaves. It quickly spreads to provide a dense groundcover.

http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/potd/2008/04/trachystemon_orientalis.php

http://www.bethchatto.co.uk/s-z/trachystemon/trachystemon-orientalis.htm

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Trachystemon+orientalis&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=nH66U4jZBIG60QX7uoGIDw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=967

Greengage · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 4:18 pm Post subject:

is it invasive.

tippben · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 6:45 pm Post subject:

Looks it to me! Most stoloniferous plants spread and colonize inexorably outwards until conditions make their growth impossible. Look at Iris, Crocosmia, and our beloved couch/scutch grass and lesser celandine. If you want to keep it, but contain it, I'd recommend a barrier. I'd dig a slit trench 18" deep, and use something like heavy grade polythene, or butyl pond liner, inserted at your desired limit, to prevent its further spread. If you leave a tiny bit showing above ground, if it jumps over, you will be able to remove the new little plants with greater ease.

Good guy · Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 8:58 pm Post subject:

Silver surfer, you're a wonder! Thank very much.
I haven't found it invasive though it does have stiff competition growing on each side. When I wanted to remove it from an area I found it quite easy - the couple of bits tat I missed and which re-grew were easy to pull out. I think I should have said that the roots are rhizomes, rather than stolons.
Having said all that, it's worth having for the early flowers, alone; they are lovely. And I see from one of the links, it is edible and a cure for nettle stings. What's not to like?