Adventures into Erodium 

I first encountered Erodium as an alpine plant to be learnt as part of a list of alpine plants at 
college. Erodium x variable Bishop’s Form (now William Bishop), is a small, unassuming
green mound with lightly-veined pink flowers. When our paths crossed in real life, I
recognised it and decided to buy it. Admittedly, this was an impulse buy and I didn’t
immediately have anywhere to put it. I worried that it would be lost in the border, so it stayed
in a small pot for some time and grew bigger. Then we went on a visit to the famous Margery
Fish garden at East Lambrook Manor, Somerset, (which is well-worth a visit by the way) and
of course we wanted a reminder of our trip. I picked a sweet, unnamed daffodil and Tony, an
Erodium, (white flowered this time, otherwise very similar in habit and leaf to William Bishop
and could be Joe Elliot). So now we had two Erodiums and nowhere to put them……… One
brilliant idea later and they were earmarked for the trough outside the dining room window.
Previously a riot of Iris reticulata and alpine Narcissus in early Spring and other Narcissus in
late Spring, but then rather empty. The small white-flowered Erodium was quickly settled into
a corner and I thought I might split the pink William Bishop because it had grown so large.
That’s when I discovered that Erodiums have a tap root – don’t try to split them. So, William
Bishop was now half the size, the bit with the tap root having survived; that without, not so
much. Two corners of the trough were occupied.
I now want to introduce a great nursery – Pottertons. It’s based in Market Rasen,
Lincolnshire, but does mail order. When I first went to their website, it was essentially an
old-style plant list, but on-line. (The website has been completely updated now and looks like
any other.) I was amazed by the variety of Erodium on offer. I picked three; Fran’s Delight; a
species Erodium, Erodium petraeum and something else, which wasn’t in stock. Fortunately,
I could click a button to be sent a replacement if the cultivar I ordered wasn’t in stock. I did
this and was sent Natasha, which was serendipity, because she is an absolute delight. All
those three are. The foliage is quite different from the two already mentioned – much fernier,
bluer and scented when crushed. They feel very Mediterranean.
I have others…..but will stick to those in the trough. The trough is approximately 35cm deep
and faces due South. I try to avoid watering it after the foliage of the bulbs has died down,
which is pretty much all Summer. Despite that, the Erodium have done amazingly well,
particularly those with the blue, aromatic foliage. The little white cultivar was seriously
scorched in the 30C plus heat, but has recovered fine, there was a little damage on William
Bishop; the other three – completely fine. Thriving.
There’s been a reorganisation of the trough this Autumn. The later-flowering Narcissus had
outgrown their spot and were making the trough appear untidy with foliage too late in the
season, so they’ve been relocated. It was an opportunity to assess the Erodiums. Erodium
petraeum has been moved into a corner and Natasha closer to an edge. This sets them off
well, as they tumble over and clothe the hypertufa. Hurray, hurray, there were three
seedlings – two blue and ferny and one green, (probably William Bishop).
I highly recommend these Alpine delights. They are affordable, relatively easy to obtain and
flower for months, (particularly Fran’s Delight). Enjoy!