Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Achimenes are coming!


  Achimenes 'Golden Bells' from Serge Saliba - World-class hybridizer - Romania


The Achimenes are coming

 

            Soon there will be new, exciting hybrids from Serge Saliba, world-class hybridizer, who lives in Romania.  He’s a hobbyists turned professional and has Achimenes like you have never seen before. There are all colors, single and double flowers, upright or trailing.

 

            I have negotiated for the North American rights to his amazing assortment of named hybrids.  We will need rapid build up of stock plants to meet the high demand for houseplants and patio plants.

 

            Achimenes were grown and sold commercially 50 years ago.  Then they disappeared.  You can find a few on the internet from specialist mail order sellers.  There are some good, old varieties.

 

            They can be houseplants at a sunny window but do better outside on the porch in planters and hanging baskets.  Morning sun and afternoon shade is the best.  If you can grow Impatiens, you will have success with Achimenes.

 

            Achimenes form rhizomes by Fall at the surface of your pot.  Save them for next year.  You can harvest them and store in plastic bags or just leave them in the pot to resprout in the Spring.

 

            Gardeners always liked Achimenes until the supply went away.

 

            Achimenes are coming back.  Watch for them.





5 comments:

  1. I'm looking forward to these! I grew a few varieties back in the 80s, but grew them under lights with my other plants and wasn't that impressed. Now I've been experimenting with various Gesneriads outdoors and have pretty successful with them. I hope I'll be able to find them this year.

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  2. Although short term, Achimenes can be a houseplant, the better location is on a porch with morning sun and afternoon shade. They can be planted in the ground, also, but will do better in a patio pot with controlled soil mix and watering. Our supply will be limited, but eventually will be available from internet mail order sellers.

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  3. Are any of your current retail outlets mail order?

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    1. Our biggest customer is Hirt's Gardens in Ohio. They ship thousands of plants retail mail order from the internet. When we have enough Achimenes, they and others will have them.

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