The call for perennials

Swedish perennial traditions

Peonies, daisies, violets and irises are examples of plants that we are searching for in our perennial call. The Call for Perennials began 2003 and is a nation-wide survey of ornamental perennials cultivated in Sweden prior to 1940. Before the second world war there was a multitude of species and varieties in cultivation and hundreds of varieties of e.g. Chinese peony, German iris and garden phlox available for sale. The perennials were spread by the nurseries and garden centres but also through friends, families and neighbours who exchanged and divided plants. Plants were both bred in Sweden and imported from abroad. Many of these old perennials are at risk of disappearing when old gardens are redone. It is difficult to replace the old varieties as most of them have not been available for sale for quite some time.

It is important to preserve perennials. The fact that they have survived this long demonstrates how well adapted they are to our climate. Additionally, there are many traditions, stories and local names associated with these plants. In the letters we have received to the Call for Perennials, we are told of a daylily planted in the 1930's to bring luck to a new built house, a garden phlox given away as a home warming gift in the 1920's and a cottage peony passed down the generations since the 1840's.

Contact

Postal address :
Perennuppropet
Centrum för biologisk mångfald
Box 57
230 53 Alnarp
Sweden
E-mail: perennuppropet@pom.info

Contact person :
Linnea Oskarsson
Telefon +46 40 41 55 86