Saxifraga × urbium, London pride, is an evergreenperennial garden flowering plant. Alternative names for it include St. Patrick's cabbage, whimsey, prattling Parnell, and look up and kiss me. Before 1700 the “London pride” appellation was given to the Sweet William (Dianthus barbatus).[1]
In 1846, Theresa Cornwallis West made a journey to Ireland. Near Dunloe in County Kerry "heareabouts grew quantities of our London Pride, and upon my expressing a wish for some roots to carry home, Sullivan [the driver] sprang down and tore up a large tuft. 'Ah, then,' said [our guide Spillane], 'that's too much entirely; why wouldn't ye leave some for the next comer?'" (A Summer Visit to the West of Ireland in 1846, p. 99).
The true London pride is a hybrid between Saxifraga umbrosa, native to the Spanish Pyrenees, and Saxifraga spathularis (the plant to which the name St Patrick's cabbage more correctly belongs, from western Ireland). The hybrid has been known at least since the 17th century.
The name is sometimes applied to any of several closely related plants of the saxifrage genus. The section Gymnopera is collectively referred to as "London Pride saxifrages", and others of them have "London pride" in their common names, for example the lesser London pride, S. cuneifolia, and the miniature London pride, S. umbrosa var. primuloides.
DescriptionEdit
Close-up of blossom
London pride is tolerant of dry, shady conditions. It grows to a height of 15–30 cm (6–12 in) and provides rapid ground cover without being aggressively invasive, and in late spring produces a mass of small pale pink rosette flowers growing from succulent stems. It will grow well in neglected or unfavourable urban spaces where few other flowers flourish, and is a common garden escapee.
Bishop Walsham How (1823–1897) wrote a poem to the flower rebuking it for having the sin of pride. When told the flower had the name because Londoners were proud of it he wrote another poem apologising to it.[1]
Tradition holds that Saxifraga × urbium rapidly colonised the bombed sites left by the London Blitz of the early 1940s. As such it is symbolic of the resilience of London and ordinary Londoners, and of the futility of seeking to bomb them into submission. A song by Noël Coward, celebrating London and the flower, achieved great popularity during the World War II years.
In the language of flowers, London Pride is held to stand for frivolity, and its day is 27 July.
ReferencesEdit
^ abBrewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 18th edition, 2005
^"Saxifraga × urbium". RHS. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
^"AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 107. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
External linksEdit
Words of the song by Noel Coward
October 18, 2023
saxifraga, urbium, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Saxifraga urbium news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Saxifraga urbium London pride is an evergreen perennial garden flowering plant Alternative names for it include St Patrick s cabbage whimsey prattling Parnell and look up and kiss me Before 1700 the London pride appellation was given to the Sweet William Dianthus barbatus 1 Saxifraga urbiumLondon PrideScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsOrder SaxifragalesFamily SaxifragaceaeGenus SaxifragaSpecies S urbiumBinomial nameSaxifraga urbiumD A WebbIn 1846 Theresa Cornwallis West made a journey to Ireland Near Dunloe in County Kerry heareabouts grew quantities of our London Pride and upon my expressing a wish for some roots to carry home Sullivan the driver sprang down and tore up a large tuft Ah then said our guide Spillane that s too much entirely why wouldn t ye leave some for the next comer A Summer Visit to the West of Ireland in 1846 p 99 Contents 1 Taxonomy 2 Description 3 Symbolism 4 References 5 External linksTaxonomy EditThe true London pride is a hybrid between Saxifraga umbrosa native to the Spanish Pyrenees and Saxifraga spathularis the plant to which the name St Patrick s cabbage more correctly belongs from western Ireland The hybrid has been known at least since the 17th century The name is sometimes applied to any of several closely related plants of the saxifrage genus The section Gymnopera is collectively referred to as London Pride saxifrages and others of them have London pride in their common names for example the lesser London pride S cuneifolia and the miniature London pride S umbrosa var primuloides Description Edit nbsp Close up of blossomLondon pride is tolerant of dry shady conditions It grows to a height of 15 30 cm 6 12 in and provides rapid ground cover without being aggressively invasive and in late spring produces a mass of small pale pink rosette flowers growing from succulent stems It will grow well in neglected or unfavourable urban spaces where few other flowers flourish and is a common garden escapee nbsp London pride planted in a gardenThis plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society s Award of Garden Merit 2 3 Symbolism EditBishop Walsham How 1823 1897 wrote a poem to the flower rebuking it for having the sin of pride When told the flower had the name because Londoners were proud of it he wrote another poem apologising to it 1 Tradition holds that Saxifraga urbium rapidly colonised the bombed sites left by the London Blitz of the early 1940s As such it is symbolic of the resilience of London and ordinary Londoners and of the futility of seeking to bomb them into submission A song by Noel Coward celebrating London and the flower achieved great popularity during the World War II years In the language of flowers London Pride is held to stand for frivolity and its day is 27 July References Edit a b Brewers Dictionary of Phrase and Fable 18th edition 2005 Saxifraga urbium RHS Retrieved 23 April 2019 AGM Plants Ornamental PDF Royal Horticultural Society July 2017 p 107 Retrieved 23 April 2019 External links EditWords of the song by Noel Coward Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saxifraga urbium amp oldid 1158712398, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
