To reach any conclusion in a written work suggests approaching a climax or crescendo, a moment of extreme excitement. This chapter is no exception, for we have reached the alpine zone, the height at which the adrenaline levels are surely at their peak. For me, and for many, having concentrated on the cultivation of these extraordinary plants without having first-hand knowledge of their location in nature, the excitement and challenges presented by the different zones might seem to be represented fairly equally at any altitude, but still something is special about this true alpine zone. Perhaps it is the knowledge that few have scaled these heights, some 12,000 and#8212; 16,400 ft. (3660 and#8212; 5000 m), and seen these specialised plants. Whatever the draw, so many of us crave the opportunity to try and grow them, whether the natural conditions available are conducive to their cultivation or not.
Few plant explorers would disagree with the observation that the richest diversity of choice alpines is to be found in a broad band along the upper edge of the alpine meadows and the base of the extensive screes at varying altitudes depending on the Himalayan region. Well-known plant hunter Ron McBeath noted, "It is impossible to describe the excitement felt when you are labouring your way steadily upwards and come across first one Primula wigramianain perfect flower, then a few, followed by a hillside dominated by this beautiful species" (1985). In this band or zone, so affected by the monsoon, frequent springs are fed by the melting snows which irrigate the upper meadows and screes, providing conditions that are practically impossible for mortal gardeners to simulate at low altitude. With this sobering fact in mind I embark on this exciting chapter.
I have been privileged to know individuals who have shown such generosity in their willingness to impart time and knowledge, often in the form of private slide shows, to the point where I have felt almost sure that part of me was there in the Himalaya with them. The late George Smith was one such friend who often invited me to stay overnight after lecturing nearby or when passing through the area. Always, out came the projector and then hours of sensational slides from a region of Nepal, a country with which he was so familiar. I most profoundly remember slides of an extraordinary gentian. First we saw views of the snow-capped Himalayan peak of Makalu, breathtaking indeed; then the perspective zoomed in to the glacial screes but showed no plant life; then closer still, the slides just barely showed some marks of vegetation between the boulders. Finally came the most perfect clumps of gentian, the likes of which I had never seen before. I asked what they were, and Smith roared with laughter, almost falling backwards off the chair. That I had no idea of the answer to my question appealed to him so greatly and#8212; I was simply speechless. The best was yet to come, for the final slide was a close-up of the most exquisite, slate-blue urns sitting between the stones of the scree in all their imperial beauty. It was Gentiana urnula, epitomising the challenges of not only trekking to such heights in east-central Nepal but also of finding such a wonderful plant and recording the event with lovely slides. Smith was a master.
Other individuals who have helped and motivated me in a similar fashion are Dieter Schacht under whom I trained at the Munich Botanic Garden; Ron McBeath who has been involved in many expeditions with the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh to both Nepal and China; together with Henry and Margaret Taylor who are superb growers of alpine plants and have shared their knowledge and experience of many expeditions, notably to India and the western Himalaya.
Since the 1990s exploration to some parts of the Himalaya has not been easy, particularly due to the political unrest in Kashmir and the uncertainties linked with the borders of China and Tibet. I have been very thankful and excited to learn of trips carried out in the late 1990s by Peter Cox, his son Kenneth and my good friend Graham Rugman to this sensitive area in south-eastern Tibet. What a thrill they have experienced returning in the footsteps of Ludlow, Sherriff and Kingdon Ward. It is surely just a matter of time before we can enjoy growing a few more of the plants we have only been able to read about, as they make their way back into cultivation by carefully organised seed collections.
If we are able to obtain plants of the alpine zone from specialist nurseries, friends or seed exchanges we should consider pot culture for the early stages of their cultivation. Using pot culture is both normal and prudent, yet an extended period of containerisation could well mean the plants' eventual downfall. This I say with many years of experience in the nursery trade where due to necessity, container-growing is a routine. When plants are given day to day care, not only can they survive but also thrive and produce healthy mother plants while in the pots, provided the roots are allowed to reach into a free-draining soil.
The best eventual site for these higher alpines may well be the raised bed or trough. The majority of these species will accept nothing but good mineral soil of acid to neutral pH. In the exceptional circumstance when a subject prefers an alkaline soil, a measure of coarse dolomite grit can be added around the individual plant. Indeed, for such subjects, a dedicated trough could be prepared with just such a specialised soil.
In the main, plants from this alpine zone will appreciate all the natural light they can get, and at the same time they must not dry out during their growing season. In some cases, notably amongst the primulas, the preferable position for the plants is dappled shade, but at least protect them from the fiercest early-afternoon heat. However, these are very much the exception to the rule.
Although I am proposing to highlight some of the most exciting species found in this zone throughout the vast Himalaya, readers must realise that many of these plants will only be available with diligent search through specialist nursery catalogues and annually produced seed lists. The Appendix lists sources to watch. I can, however, assure readers that once successful in locating a much sought-after plant and once successful in cultivating it, they will find the reward unsurpassed even though the plants may not live long.
Photo above:Gentiana urnula, Khumbu, eastern Nepal. Photo by George Smith.