Nepalinhanhikki Miss Willmott (siemenet)

Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Willmott' offered as seed establishes a hardy Himalayan perennial tolerating cold and rocky, slightly dry soils. Summer flowering produces small cherry-pink cups with a deep purplish-red centre, suited to borders, rockeries and gravel gardens. Plants grown from seed remain close to the cultivar while offering slight shade diversity when planted as a group.

Potentilla nepalensis originates from high-altitude meadows of the western Himalayas, growing between 2,000 and 2,700 m in light, stony, well-drained soils. 'Miss Willmott' is a horticultural selection — also listed as Potentilla 'Miss Wilmott', Potentilla willmottiae or Potentilla nepalensis var. willmottiae in older sources — representing a more compact and uniform form than the type. It is named after British horticulturist Ellen Ann Willmott. The Potentilla nepalensis group, and 'Miss Willmott' in particular, hold the Award of Garden Merit.

The plant forms a clump 40 to 50 cm high and 45 to 60 cm wide. Foliage is deciduous, with palmate basal leaves divided into five toothed leaflets and trifoliate upper leaves, medium to dark green and slightly hairy. Within two or three years it forms an attractive clump. Flowering runs from June to August, occasionally extending into early autumn. Single flowers measure 2 to 2.5 cm across, borne in loose cymes on arching stems. Petals are vivid cherry pink, paler toward the edge, with a distinct purplish-red eye; the yellow stamens attract bees and pollinators. The plant may self-seed moderately on bare soils.

Potentilla nepalensis 'Miss Willmott' suits a sunny position at the front of borders, in a rockery or gravel garden. It combines well with common yarrow 'Cerise Queen', Sedum 'Herbstfreude' (Autumn Joy), hardy geranium 'Philippe Vapelle' and Saponaria ocymoides. It requires only moderate watering and removal of faded flowers.