Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: fermi de Sousa on February 19, 2008, 06:30:42 AM

Title: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on February 19, 2008, 06:30:42 AM
Time to resurrect this topic as there is a new flower in the sandbed!
The spectacularly quiet Crossyne (syn Boophone) flava!
I noticed the flowerhead emerging on the weekend and took this pic yesterday.
[attachthumb=1]

Then this morning the first floret opened!
[attachthumb=2]

[attachthumb=3]

This looks to be the only one to flower of about 5 planted out in 2003. But they were sown in June 1998, so they'd languished for a few years in a seedpot before being liberated into the sandbed! I'll try to post a pic when the whole head is in bloom.
Not as Flamboyant as the belladonna lilies
[attachthumb=4]

or the Ammocharis in the earlier posting by Rogan, they are nonetheless a welcome addition to the Bulb Collection! Well, they'd better be after waiting nearly 10 years for one of them to flower!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on February 19, 2008, 10:01:31 AM
Fermi, you are a man with infinite patience.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Ezeiza on February 19, 2008, 02:25:25 PM
Hi:


    To Fermi, Ferrarias are among the very few irids in which corms are persistent and do not reform each season. The rootstock is the "rosary" of corms and if possible do not break them apart: keeping them together will produce a huge robust plant. If you separate them into individual corms you will have several smallish plants that will only be sizeable if you let the "rosary" reform again. Ferrarias are often dwellers of sand dunes and do best grown in a thick layer of pure grit or coarse sand. They require a long hot dormancy in summer, not receiving it, they typically skip one or more subsequent seasons of growth.

Regards
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Ezeiza on February 19, 2008, 02:28:55 PM
Hi:

    And, Sparaxis and Synnotias are not synomims. In fact, Synnotia is now only a section of the valid genus Sparaxis. The other species in the genus Sparaxis have never been in Synnotia.


Regards
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on June 06, 2008, 02:57:10 AM
Here are a few South African bulbs which I've already posted on the Southern Hemisphere Threads.
First, a little Polyxena, possibly P. ensifolia?
[attachthumb=1]
Then the wonderful mauve/lavender Moraea polystachya
[attachthumb=2]
Two nerines, one white, N. flexuosa alba:
[attachthumb=3]
and its pink counterpart:
[attachthumb=4]
And the Salmon form of Oxalis hirta
[attachthumb=5]
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Roma on June 06, 2008, 10:13:28 PM
More pics of S. African bulbs please Fermi.  They remind me of the ones I used to grow at work when I had more time , space and heat than I have at home .  I'm sure you posted apicture of Ferraria crispa last year but I could not find it.  The search facility gave me 3 references but no picture and asked if I meant Ferrari!  The first winter I tried Ferraria at home the leaves got frosted in the greenhouse but the corms survived.  Last year I took the plant into the house but lack of light and possibly also water meant it didn't flower.  This year against the west facing wall of the greenhouse with temperature sometimes down to freezing it made plenty growth and had between one and five flowers nearly every day for more than two weeks in early May.  Unfortunately it stopped flowering two days before the Aberdeen show so I couldn't  delight Maggi with the 'scent'.

Roma
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on June 07, 2008, 08:12:03 PM
Yes please Fermi, and others, the more pictures of Southern Hemisphere bulbous plants the better. I have mentioned before that I am presently running an experiment to see how many Southern Hemisphere plants I can get away with in my garden without having to dig them up in their dormant season. So far Sparaxis hybrids and Ixia hybrids have survived, and indeed flowered this Spring, and I am pleased that my Tigridia pavonia planted and flowered last year are well up again this year.

Presently, in my greenhouse I have sprouted seed pots of:-
Rigidella orthanta; Gyandriris setifolia;Albuca shawii;Alophia amoena;Alophia drummondi;Cyrtanthus brachyscythus;Cypella herbertii;Cypella peruviana;Diplarena latifolia;Diplarena moraea;Herbertia lahue;Hesperantha baurii;Hesperantha folcata;Montiopsis cistiflora;Tigridia van-houttii,Tigridia chiapensis; and from my own saved seed Tigridia pavonia. Others have yet to sprout!!

The good Lord only knows how I am going to find the room for them in the greenhouse as they grow to planting out size!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on July 22, 2008, 08:05:05 PM
Haemanthus albiflos.

I have one young plant of the above that I bought last year (not flowered yet) could someone advise please if it should remain moist all year round?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Tony Willis on July 22, 2008, 09:14:06 PM
David

I dry mine of for a couple of months in the summer. It stands on the kitchen windowsill all year round. It starts up again in the autumn and I water it only a little at first when I see new growth.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on July 22, 2008, 09:49:45 PM
Thanks for that Tony.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ChrisB on July 22, 2008, 10:07:30 PM
I was given one earlier this year, it was in flower at the time.  The lady who gave it to me kept it in a shady but warm place and hardly watered it at all.  Where the sun had been on the foliage, it had gone brown, so now I'm growing it without any direct sun but a bright spot, but still give it water very sparingly.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: johnw on July 22, 2008, 11:13:32 PM
David - I mistreat mine, little water. It flowered best when I moved it outside for the summer with a half day of sun and it got watered regularly with the rest of the pots.  I noticed mine has always had a few mysterious spots on the leaves reminiscent of those eye-windows on some of the mesembs that hide mostly underground. Maybe it's a deficiency????

johnw - over 100mm of rain, tropical storm passed with no wind.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on July 24, 2008, 06:22:35 AM
Haemanthus albiflos is an evergreen member of the genus.  I don't particularly dry it in summer or anything like that.  The new leaves push through the centre while the old leaves are starting to look a bit ratty.  Usually only keeps the leaves for a year or two, then they die off leaving those that have grown in subsequent years.  This species (unlike coccineus) is frost tender, but if it does get frosted a little it will reshoot again the following season when it is due.  Very easy to grow and flower here, from full sun to partial shade, but I wouldn't be putting it in permanent shade myself.  It gets mid morning through the mid afternoon sun where it is at my place, but could take more or less than that I think without a problem.  I wouldn't be shading it TOO much though.  That any help?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on August 12, 2008, 07:57:53 PM
A few weeks ago, after running out of greenhouse space (again!) I did a review of my SH bulb seedlings all of which were sown under glass at the beginning of March. Some of them have done really well but a few pots showed no germination at all and these I removed to my seed frame outside. I noticed today that a dwarf form of Diates grandiflora had germinated and this inspite of the dull and rainy weather we have been having for weeks. Maybe it's been trying to tell me something?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Miriam on August 13, 2008, 06:50:56 PM
Here are a few South African bulbs which I've already posted on the Southern Hemisphere Threads.
First, a little Polyxena, possibly P. ensifolia?
(Attachment Link)
Then the wonderful mauve/lavender Moraea polystachya
(Attachment Link)
Two nerines, one white, N. flexuosa alba:
(Attachment Link)
and its pink counterpart:
(Attachment Link)
And the Salmon form of Oxalis hirta
(Attachment Link)
cheers
fermi


Wondeful plants Fermi!
Although I am interested especially in Irises, I also like very much all kinds of Moraea.

Thanks for sharing,
Miriam
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on August 19, 2008, 08:58:10 AM
Wondeful plants Fermi!
Although I am interested especially in Irises, I also like very much all kinds of Moraea.
Thanks for sharing,
Miriam
Thanks, Miriam,
here are a few more South Africans, which I've also posted to the "August in the SH" thread,
First the lovely white and yellow Moraea macronyx, which is citrus scented but only lasts a day, opens in late morning and gone by the evening.
 [attachthumb=1]
And another small moraea which i think maybe M. ciliata
 [attachthumb=2]
The dark centred cream Babiana pygmaea
 [attachthumb=4]
And the sweetly scented Babiana odorata
 [attachthumb=3]
And a rather chewed up Lachenalia reflexa!
 [attachthumb=5]
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on August 19, 2008, 11:03:05 AM
Flowering now.... Gladiolus watsonius.  I posted a couple of pics of my Moraea ciliata in the southern hemisphere thread too, Fermi.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 20, 2008, 12:16:03 AM
That's very nice Paul. How tall?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on August 20, 2008, 12:38:04 AM
Lesley,

About 18 inches or so.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on August 25, 2008, 08:41:45 AM
Another South African bulb which I've also posted to the Southern Hemisphere thread, Romulea hantamensis.
[attachthumb=1]

I posted a couple of pics of my Moraea ciliata in the southern hemisphere thread too, Fermi.
Thanks, Paul, I'm pretty sure mine is also M.ciliata.
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on August 25, 2008, 09:44:06 AM
That 's a nice one Fermi, a very rich colour.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ashley on August 25, 2008, 03:49:01 PM
Another South African bulb which I've also posted to the Southern Hemisphere thread, Romulea hantamensis.

What a beauty Fermi.  Did you grow it from seed, and if so what conditions would you advise?  I've had no germination after almost a year & wintered outdoors, so am preparing for disappointment  :(

Your Moraea macronyx above is magnificent too.

Ashley
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Jim McKenney on August 26, 2008, 12:31:34 AM

I did post a pic of "Errol" last year, but haven't photographed him lately.
(Attachment Link) cheersfermi

That was nearly a year ago, Fermi. Has Errol been at all photogenic in the meantime? I would like to see him, too. I can't wait for your book Gardening with Echidnas, or will it be Monotremes In My Monocots ?
I'm sure he has star potential.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Diane Whitehead on August 26, 2008, 05:13:57 AM
No flower pictures yet - seeing the ones here makes me impatient when
I check my seedpots.

I am growing Gladiolus geardii from last year's SRCG exchange. The seeds
had "wings" around the entire seed. I sowed them in mid March, and they
germinated two weeks later.

Now the leaves are much more vigorous than any gladiolus I have sown.
They are flat with a centre ridge, and look more like an Anomatheca.

Is anyone else growing this from the exchange?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on August 26, 2008, 08:58:21 AM
I posted a pic earlier of a seedling Babiana pygmaea which was cream with a dark centre, here's one of its parents - definitely a lemon colour compared to the seedling!
[attachthumb=1]
Another South African I've posted to the Southern Hemisphere Threads is Bulbinella cauda-felis, now in full flower
[attachthumb=2]
Of course the first flowers will have died by the time the top ones open.
I am growing Gladiolus geardii from last year's SRCG exchange. The seeds
had "wings" around the entire seed. I sowed them in mid March, and they
germinated two weeks later.

Now the leaves are much more vigorous than any gladiolus I have sown.
They are flat with a centre ridge, and look more like an Anomatheca.

Is anyone else growing this from the exchange?
Hi Diane,
I don't think I got this one from the Seedex, but winged seeds makes it sound like a Gladdie rather than an Anomatheca. Can you post pics of the foliage?
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on August 26, 2008, 09:39:19 AM
Beautiful Babiana Fermi ! Very delicate Lemon !! 8)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on August 26, 2008, 01:42:31 PM
Diane, I can be of no help to you, but I happily await updates as to the progress of those Gladiolus .
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on August 26, 2008, 01:44:10 PM
Quote
That was nearly a year ago, Fermi. Has Errol been at all photogenic in the meantime? I would like to see him, too. I can't wait for your book Gardening with Echidnas, or will it be Monotremes In My Monocots ?
I'm sure he has star potential.
Loving this idea, Jim.... ...I incline to the opinion that Fermi should publish book ( same book) under both titles....to maximise market for sales!! ::)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on August 26, 2008, 01:47:19 PM
How about The Monocots and Monotremes Monograph!?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ranunculus on August 26, 2008, 02:41:11 PM
How about The Monocots and Monotremes Monograph!?

Bit monotonous perhaps?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Jim McKenney on August 26, 2008, 03:28:11 PM
How about The Monocots and Monotremes Monograph!?

Bit monotonous perhaps?

Cliff, every time I read the "utterly butterly" under your moniker ranunculus, and then see the five yellow stars, it reminds me of a nice big bowl of warm buttered popcorn. Mmmmmm....yummy.
Sorry, it's hard to stay on topic when the word butter appears. That Babiana image Fermi posted was such a lovely buttery yellow...
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on August 26, 2008, 03:38:27 PM

Cliff, every time I read the "utterly butterly" under your moniker ranunculus, and then see the five yellow stars, it reminds me of a nice big bowl of warm buttered popcorn. Mmmmmm....yummy.
Sorry, it's hard to stay on topic when the word butter appears. That Babiana image Fermi posted was such a lovely buttery yellow...

Jim, are you my twin who was kidnapped by bandits and  taken to the USA..... ??? ??? :-*
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ranunculus on August 26, 2008, 04:24:19 PM
Would that make him butterscotch, Maggi?   :-[

Very kind of you Jim ... but Maggi is wholly responsible (or should that be Marg')?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on August 26, 2008, 04:31:30 PM
Would that make him butterscotch, Maggi?   :-[

Very kind of you Jim ... but Maggi is wholly responsible (or should that be Marg')?

I think butterscotch would be just the thing, Cliff!

Can't go with marge though... after a brief fling with Stork ( as in: you can't tell talk from mutter !!) when I was about three... it has been butter all the way !
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Jim McKenney on August 26, 2008, 04:36:39 PM

Cliff, every time I read the "utterly butterly" under your moniker ranunculus, and then see the five yellow stars, it reminds me of a nice big bowl of warm buttered popcorn. Mmmmmm....yummy.
Sorry, it's hard to stay on topic when the word butter appears. That Babiana image Fermi posted was such a lovely buttery yellow...

Jim, are you my twin who was kidnapped by bandits and  taken to the USA..... ??? ??? :-*

Might be, Maggi. Evidently my progenitors got around a bit. I have a friend from New Orleans, Bobbie, who swears we must be brother and sister separated at birth: it seems we both inherited a  certain plant acquisition gene in its most robust form. Come to think of it, the participants in this forum are all probably related to me.

Do we have a bulb collecting gene?
Last week on the PBS forum we had been discussing the definition of the word "bulb" and one forum member posted this link to research on the eating habits (plant collecting...eating habits: I really a pretty simple person) of early hominids. Check out this link:

http://www.springerlink.com/content/288g93472x2000k2/fulltext.html

One nice idea which emerges from this paper: the acronym USO, meaning underground storage organs (no need ever to hesitate as you try to decide to say bulb or corm or whatever).
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Jim McKenney on August 26, 2008, 04:38:35 PM
Would that make him butterscotch, Maggi?   :-[


Butterscotch? I like it. Butterscotch it is!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Jim McKenney on August 26, 2008, 04:49:57 PM
Munching in Maryland

That good, too - and better for my teeth!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on August 26, 2008, 05:17:48 PM
Jim, I decided to combine the two!! Its about time you had a description of your own!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Jim McKenney on August 26, 2008, 07:39:51 PM
Jim, I decided to combine the two!! Its about time you had a description of your own!

Well done, Maggi, I really appreciate it. Here's a little butter story to prove just how appropriate it is. I've been away from my computer for the last few hours preparing a lunch for my sister who is visiting today. Part of the lunch was to be a strawberry tart which has a pastry cream/whipped cream base. I shook the container of whipping cream but heard no sloshing sounds. When I opened the container and tilted it, nothing came out. Then I looked: the opening was plugged with masses of butter! The cream had buttered in the container. I used it anyway, it whipped up nicely, and the tart had a half life of about twenty minutes.

Butterboy now promises to try to stay on topic for a while.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on August 26, 2008, 07:53:46 PM
Now look Jim, all this 'buttering up' of Maggi will get you nowhere at all, and as for throwing strawberry tart into the mix, well! ;D
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Diane Whitehead on August 29, 2008, 07:23:56 PM
Gladiolus geardii from last year's SRCG exchange. The seeds
had "wings" around the entire seed. I sowed them in mid March, and they
germinated two weeks later.

Now the leaves are much more vigorous than any gladiolus I have sown.
They are flat with a centre ridge, and look more like an Anomatheca.

  Here is a photo of the leaves of G. geardii and G.caryophyllaceus,
both sown on the same date - March 2008.

Is geardii considered a species now?  My gladiolus book (Lewis, Obermeyer
and Barnard, 1972) lists it only as a synonym of G. floribundus.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on August 29, 2008, 07:35:16 PM
Peter Goldblatt et al list it as a species in 'The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs'
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on August 30, 2008, 11:20:03 PM
On my recent trip to England it attend the bulb sale I bought a pot of Cyrtanthus montanus from Beeches nursery. Can anyone confirm it is correct?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ChrisB on August 30, 2008, 11:21:24 PM
You certainly did some shopping over here Mark.....
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on August 31, 2008, 11:19:05 AM
well Chris, what you people in England have that we dont is excellent independant nurseries. Over here we have one alpine nursery and one perennial nursery.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on August 31, 2008, 11:43:05 AM
Mark,

Looks spot on to me.  I've never flowered mine as yet (how big is the bulb on your flowering one?) but I have it firmly in mind from when I saw a picture of it years ago.  Reminds me so much of a Nerine at first glance.  I'm hoping mine will flower one of these years.  So that makes it an autumn flowerer then?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on September 17, 2008, 09:22:44 PM
Just got hold of some Oxalis bulbs and I'm confused-a state I'm quite familiar with!

The first one is Oxalis karooica but the PBS Wiki suggests this is not a valid name and they may be O. gracilis-can anyone enlighten me please?

The second is labelled O. purpurea 'Ken Aslett' but reference to the Old Forum suggests this is O. melanosticta-enlightenment again please?

The third is O. versicolor

I have 15/20 very small bulbs of each species and thought I would plant them roughly 10 bulbs to a 9cm square pot. Does this seem reasonable?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lvandelft on September 17, 2008, 10:32:06 PM
The second is labelled O. purpurea 'Ken Aslett' but reference to the Old Forum suggests this is O. melanosticta-enlightenment again please?

O. purpurea was the old name, but since I cultivated it, the name changed.
3 or 4 bulb in a 9x9 pot is enough (when flowering sized bulbs)


Quote
The third is O. versicolor

I would prefer a round 10 cm. pot David, because when flowering it's much nicer to see.
Otherwise again, 5 bulbs would do in a pot. But you might leave them for 2 seasons in the pot.

Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on September 18, 2008, 12:35:17 AM
This is an orange flowered spiloxene species which is apparently different to S. linearis;
any suggestions ?
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on September 18, 2008, 09:36:38 AM
Luit, thanks for the information.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on September 27, 2008, 10:29:50 PM
A little information for me too please. I have recently obtained two small bulbs as x Rhodoxis, bigeneric hybrids between Rhodohypoxis and Hypoxis. One is called 'Hebron Pink' and the other, a white' I have no name for. Has anyone a picture of these or anything else I should know?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ChrisB on September 27, 2008, 10:41:29 PM
That's quite interesting, Lesley.  I've never noticed where the bits are on the flowers to pollinate them, far less obtain seed.  Let us see them when they flower please.  Will be interesting to see what they do!  Just checked my Plantfinder, and sure enough they are listed.  Must seek one out to give it a try.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on September 27, 2008, 10:46:23 PM
Lesley, a pic here: http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=474.msg12367;topicseen#msg12367 from Gerd, I think
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on September 27, 2008, 10:56:33 PM
and here from Toolie : http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=84.msg1568#msg1568
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on September 27, 2008, 11:13:49 PM
and from me - 'Hebron Pink'
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ChrisB on September 28, 2008, 12:47:48 PM
Quite lovely, aren't they?  Nice photo Mark!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on September 28, 2008, 11:15:54 PM
Thank you Maggi and Mark, they are indeed, delightful and I'll look forward to my tiny bulblets increasing. Chris, to pollinate the Rhodohypoxis, you need to pull the petals outward to expose the stamens and stigmas, then fiddle around a bit. Nothing is very big. The little black seeds sit in a cup with no top so can be tipped or washed out quite easily when ripe.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on September 29, 2008, 07:37:18 AM
Mark,
that's a nice colony of "Hebron Pink".
Here are some more Sth Africans in bloom in our garden, some I've already posted to the SH thread
Lachenalia bolusi, grown from SilverHill seed,
[attachthumb=1]
Gladiolus tristis,
[attachthumb=2]
Geissorhiza corugata, also from SHS
[attachthumb=3]
G.spledidissima,
[attachthumb=4]
A pleasant mix of Ixia and sparaxis,
[attachthumb=5]
Yellow ixia,
[attachthumb=6]
And a "stray" Moraea without a label, possibly M. villosa,
[attachthumb=7]
cheers
fermi

Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lvandelft on September 29, 2008, 04:59:59 PM
Ooh, so good to see such nice springflowers from the SH, while the leaves are
falling here. :( :(
This yellow Ixia is superb Fermi !!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on September 29, 2008, 06:18:10 PM
That small colony is being swamped by the conifer.

Is anyone down under looking for Rhodohypoxis 'Kiwi Joy'?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on September 29, 2008, 08:42:56 PM
So far as I know 'Kiwi Joy' is still not in New Zealand. However, an Australian friend was recently able to get a small plant from Aberconway Nursery in Wales.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Carlo on September 29, 2008, 08:50:23 PM
Just a tease, I guess...
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on September 29, 2008, 09:45:30 PM
Mark,

Do you know of a source for it?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on September 29, 2008, 11:06:57 PM
No tease Carlo.

Paul I'll supply it
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on September 30, 2008, 07:09:22 AM
Mark,

I'm assuming it wouldn't come true from seed, and quarantine is not something I want to go through.  ::)  Given you asked specifically of down under people I thought you might have had a source within Australia, so that we could buy actual plants of it.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on October 07, 2008, 08:13:52 AM
Lots of Sth African bulbs coming into flower!
I think this is a form of Ixia maculata
[attachthumb=1]

[attachthumb=2]
Another one in bright yellow,
[attachthumb=8]
Not sure about this one's name, but it's a nice shade of lemon,
[attachthumb=3]

[attachthumb=4]
This one appears to be a hybrid of Ixia maculata with red exterior,
[attachthumb=5]
A colourful mix of ixia and sparaxis
[attachthumb=9]
A healthy patch of Lachenalia contaminata,
[attachthumb=6]
Lachenalia orchioides var glaucina, which I find does better for me in a pot in the Shadehouse,
[attachthumb=7]
A stray moraea, probably M. villosa,
[attachthumb=10]
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on October 07, 2008, 08:24:24 AM
Now that's what I call a colourful display Fermi !!  :o


Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on October 07, 2008, 09:19:18 AM
Fermi,

Is that first orange Ixia quite short?  If so, it is probably Ixia curta.  If the second yellow one is the same size then I can only assume another colour form of the same.  I adore my clump of the orange one, I look forward to it every year.  So bright, right at the beginning of the Ixia season, and reliable as anything.  Haven't heard of a yellow one before, but it looks very nice.  I love the whole genus, as they thrive on so little care or attention.  Would love to find more colours.... I have some interesting salmon/tan combinations, yellow, pinks, creams etc.  All very cool.  8)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ChrisB on October 07, 2008, 12:54:27 PM
So bright and colourful, Fermi.  Lovely display.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on October 07, 2008, 02:24:32 PM
I am enjoying seeing all of these plants but I must single out the Lachenalia contaminata.... super!!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on October 25, 2008, 08:39:37 AM
Hi,
here is Gethyllis linearis just flowering yesterday.
I'll try to self pollinate it.

(http://i74.servimg.com/u/f74/11/84/35/03/img_2710.jpg) (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=330&u=11843503)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ashley on October 25, 2008, 09:01:46 AM
Stunning plant and photograph Fred.  What conditions do you give it?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Brian Ellis on October 25, 2008, 09:29:50 AM
Wow!             Amazing!           I love it!

Now that one I could definitely give a home to, well done Fred!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on October 25, 2008, 09:34:59 AM
Stunning Fred, tell us more about it and how you grow it please.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on October 25, 2008, 10:15:44 AM
great looking leaves also. There seems to be pollen on the style already.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Folypeelarks on October 25, 2008, 10:39:20 AM
Gethyllis is one of my favorite Amarylidaceae members!I love this plant \though the fact that I still do not grow It\ and this is just amazing!The leaves are very strange and interesting.Very nice photo, BULBISSIME.


Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on October 25, 2008, 11:07:06 AM
Fred,

Perfect photo!!  Captures everything beautifully.  And OH those leaves!!!  :o  Wow!!  Only other place I think I've seen it is here in the forums once before.  Absolute beauty!! 8)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ranunculus on October 25, 2008, 12:23:06 PM
What a gem ... and what a photograph!  Congratulations on both.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ChrisB on October 25, 2008, 01:00:25 PM
You've done justice to your superb plant, Fred.  What a sparkling photo.  Wow!!!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on October 25, 2008, 05:09:14 PM
Than'ks to everybody  ;D
I grow it in the greenhouse, with summer dormancy and nothing special else.
What is amzing is that the flower emerges very very quickly : only one or two days !
Here is a picture of the leaves only, few weeks ago, very nice leaves !

(http://i34.servimg.com/u/f34/11/84/35/03/img_7110.jpg) (http://www.servimg.com/image_preview.php?i=280&u=11843503)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Folypeelarks on October 25, 2008, 07:16:03 PM
It's just amazing! Do You fertilize it?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on October 25, 2008, 07:50:07 PM
Yes, just a little bit mainly with potassium.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Shaw on October 25, 2008, 08:25:19 PM
The foliage looks rather like a sculpture of metal shavings stained green. Wonderful!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 25, 2008, 10:51:59 PM
My thought too David, Beautifully wrought iron, powder-coated! What a stunning plant. THanks so much for this introduction.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on October 26, 2008, 03:48:37 AM
Fred,

Again, Wow!!  I have a couple of "spiralis" type plants with curled leaves, but that one of yours really is something.  I wonder if Silverhill sell seed of it?  Well worth looking for it, that is for sure.  Thanks for the pics.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: fermi de Sousa on October 27, 2008, 07:55:48 AM
Fred,
lovely to see the Gethyllis! I'm jealous!
Here are some South Africans, making themselves at home in Victoria; nothing as fabulous as gethyllis, but a nice range of ixias, the wandflowers or cornlilies.
The tall and willowy blue "Teal"
[attachthumb=1]
One I received as I. monodelpha, but it lacks the central eye as shown in "The Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs"
[attachthumb=2]
And the small but startling I. rouxii, just starting so not at its best yet.
[attachthumb=3]
Paul,
this is what I have as I. curta
[attachthumb=6]
This is a mystery lachenalia which found its way into a pot of Habranthus seedlings but seemed a bit odd due to its channeled leaves. What is it? A form of L. contaminata or L. bachmannii??
[attachthumb=4]

[attachthumb=5]
Anyone with any suggestions?
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on October 27, 2008, 09:13:45 AM
Fermi,
Your blue Ixia is splendid !
and no idea about lachenalia..... :-[
best
Fred
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 27, 2008, 09:34:13 PM
Can someone identify this little Gladiolus for me please? I grew it from seed as an Ixia species and the leaves are very fine and ixia-like. It isn't G. carmineus.

[attachthumb=1]
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on October 27, 2008, 10:35:04 PM
Hi Lesley,
why are you certain it isn't G. carmineus ?
it really looks like it !!!
I have no other idea  >:(
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on October 28, 2008, 02:44:08 AM
Well, I suppose it DOES look like it, though the shape is somewhat different. My G. carmineus flowers April-June (autumn here), up to 6 months ago. The leaves are very narrow, compared to my G. carmineus too.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on October 31, 2008, 09:03:07 PM
Fermi,

My Ixia curta has the dark centre, as we've discussed before.  How tall is the one in your picture?  Do you have sufficient numbers to spare a corm or two of the Ixia rouxii at the end of the season?  I lost mine but loved it dearly.  I'd ask you to keep an eye out for seed, but given how many types you have flowering now the odds of seed being pure would be rather small I think  ;).... then again hybrids of that could be rather stunning... Hmmmmm!  :-\

Great pics from both yourself and Lesley.  Thanks.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on November 01, 2008, 10:31:51 AM
Can't help you with the ID Lesley but both Gladi's look really nice  !!   :D
How tall do they grow ??
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Pete Clarke on November 01, 2008, 06:52:26 PM
Massonia jasminiflora just opening now. It has a very curious scent, hard to decribe & I am not sure if I like it or not
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on November 01, 2008, 06:58:26 PM
Pete that is gorgeous.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 01, 2008, 07:18:04 PM
What a nice plant......Massonia jasminiflora....... and with a sensible name, too!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 01, 2008, 09:08:23 PM
It's an adorable little plant.  I grow some here too and they do very well.  Quite petite, and a good flowerer.  That reminds me that I must check for the seed that was maturing on mine.  ::)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 02, 2008, 07:55:18 PM
It is certainly a lovely plant, with apparently a tallish stem, for a Massonia. I mentioned earlier somewhere that although the flowers hadn't opened properly, Massonia depressa seemed to have a couple of seed pods. On Friday I collected 15 seeds (already on their way to Ireland) so maybe there's a suggestion of cleistogamy with Massonia. The pods were quite green and stiff on Thursday and on Friday the pods and leaves had lifted right out of the ground (raised bed) and were lying there wilted and yellowing. Another day and they'd have shed altogether.

Luc, my Gladiolus carmineus is about 20 cms in height and flowers any time from April to August (autumn/early sping here) but this other is in flower now (late spring) and is about 30cms in height. The shape and shade of pink are different and the white flake arrangement is different too.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on November 03, 2008, 08:49:33 AM

Luc, my Gladiolus carmineus is about 20 cms in height and flowers any time from April to August (autumn/early sping here) but this other is in flower now (late spring) and is about 30cms in height. The shape and shade of pink are different and the white flake arrangement is different too.

 :o :o
Do any of them set seed Lesley ???
If so..........  :-*
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 03, 2008, 09:13:38 PM
Gl. carmineus does, though didn't this year but the weather was awful when it flowered. The other has just a first flower so I don't know about that one but I've hand-pollinated. If so........ ;)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on November 04, 2008, 10:40:09 AM
 :D :-*
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Cris on November 04, 2008, 11:30:10 AM
Hi
I am delighted with the Ixia maculata, what a colour.  :o
It's easy  to grow it from seed?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 05, 2008, 05:11:34 AM
Cris,

I've found all Ixia are extremely easy from seed.  Here, they tend to seed freely, which can be very cool when a new colour springs up.  I have some lovely yellows through bronze to pink in my garden, different shades on different plants.  I also have Ixia polystachya in bud at the moment, which is always the latest of all of them, starting flowering when the others are all finishing.  I sowed some seed last year that I had received at least 4 or 5 years ago, and I think every one of them germinated.  They're "pastel shades" of polystachya from a friend of mine in Western Australia.  Will be interesting to see what colours come from them, as she has white through mauve, and all shades in between.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on November 10, 2008, 11:27:30 PM
Massonia jasminiflora just opening now. It has a very curious scent, hard to decribe & I am not sure if I like it or not

Wonderfull plant Pete !
I have some seedlings of this species, I really hope to get something similar   :)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Pete Clarke on November 16, 2008, 06:18:29 PM
My favourite Massonia - pustulata. It has a nice lemon scent.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on November 16, 2008, 06:24:16 PM
Love these flowers, they make me think of sea-urchins!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on November 16, 2008, 06:41:52 PM
Very nice and unusual !
Pete, your plants looks very healthy !
Thank's,
Fred
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on November 16, 2008, 08:24:01 PM
And all that wonderful pollen!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Pete Clarke on November 16, 2008, 08:30:14 PM
Very nice and unusual !
Pete, your plants looks very healthy !   Thanks,
Fred


Thanks Fred. These are some years old now & not as vigorous as they used to be. However I have 100's of seedlings coming on (but rather slow.) I have plants of a Massonia spec. which looks like pustulata in leaf but the flower "bud" is different and not ready to open yet. I will post a pic. in due course. I would love to get more species, particularly the small ones as seen on Paul's Wisley log.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 17, 2008, 01:22:31 AM
Pete,

Great pic of a great plant.  Very, very cool. 8)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Michael on November 17, 2008, 08:43:29 AM
My seedlings are also emerging now! They are very tiny at the moment, but i am hoping to see them improving in the coming weeks! I have heard that some of these are actualy pollinated by rodentia mammals. I find this very unusual!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on November 21, 2008, 04:20:25 PM
Here's a pic of one of my three pots of Lapeirousia divaricata now showing some 17cm of leaf growth. I still wonder if I should have left them out of the 'September shower' and started them into growth a little later but so far they are looking very healthy!

Incidentally I sent seed to the Exchange but I notice Stuart has listed them as Anomatheca divaricata but my check on IPNI says Lapeirousia is a valid name.

I did want to try some different stuff this year even though my greenhouse is really set up for Primula growing with top vents open all year round and odd panes of glass replaced with plastic mesh. I know they are not all South African but so far I have good growth on the following: Lachanalia uniflora; Geisshoriza monanthus; Polyxena corymbosa; Calochortus uniflorus; Babiana cederbergensis; Babiana nana; Moraea tripetala; Morae macrocarpa; Moraea calcicola and Habranthus martinezii. Watch this space!!

 
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 21, 2008, 08:05:33 PM
David,

Not sure about those particular species of Babiana as I haven't grown those, but all the others grow fine outside here with no protection.  Most of the Babiana I have tried do so as well, but they can get some frost damage in some species.  None of those are cold sensitive at my level of cold anyway.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on November 22, 2008, 07:33:06 PM
Paul, can you remind me please, what temperatures do you get in Winter?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 22, 2008, 08:03:44 PM
David,

Sorry, I get to -8'C or so most winters.  Not that cold in the grand scheme of things, but cold enough for us.  ;)  How does that rate compared to you?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on November 22, 2008, 08:24:03 PM
Thanks Paul, being only 12 miles or so from the coast it's rare to get a really hard frost here and I suppose -8C would be a really hard one.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 22, 2008, 09:04:28 PM
David,

We get lots of frosts here, could possibly find out how many nights below zero we get on average if you're interested?   find that -5'C seems to be a turning point for a lot of plants.... i.e they remain undamaged until we get below -5 and then start suffering.  Some things die back to the ground at that point, and some things just die.  ::)  The mornings below that tend to be frozen until late morning, with some shaded areas holding frost until early afternoon (not necessarily in my garden, but frost pockets around the area etc).  I'd call them hard frosts, but I would imagine a lot of those way up north towards the arctic would be calling it beach weather!  ;) ;D
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on November 23, 2008, 07:47:29 PM
Paul my first look out of the window in the mornings tells me if we have have had frost or not. If there is frost on the greenhouse roof or the lawn most of it will have gone by around 0930.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Hans J on November 25, 2008, 12:32:18 PM
here some flowers from today :

Massonia spec.
Massonia jasminiflora
Massonia pustulata
Massonia pustulata double head
Massonia pustulata close up
Tulbaghia simmlerii f. alba
Tulbaghia simmlerii f. alba close up





Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Alberto on November 25, 2008, 12:57:19 PM
Hans, you are really a keen gardener and plantsman! Bravo

Alberto from a snowy North Italy

 
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on November 25, 2008, 03:48:11 PM
Lovely plants Hans and great pictures too.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Hans J on November 25, 2008, 08:25:16 PM
 ;) Thank you Alberto + David  ;D

Best wishes
Hans
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on November 25, 2008, 09:24:22 PM
Hans,
as usual, very unusual plants !! ;D
It's a pleasure to see this plants in so good conditions !
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Hans J on November 25, 2008, 10:10:02 PM
Fred ,

thanks  ;D

...thats the motherplants from the seed I have sent to you 8)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on November 26, 2008, 05:18:45 AM
Beautiful Massonia, Hans.  Nice pink to that first one, and of course the glorious leaves on the M. pustulata.  Excellent pics, as always!!  8)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: BULBISSIME on November 26, 2008, 07:22:19 AM
Fred ,

thanks  ;D

...thats the motherplants from the seed I have sent to you 8)

GREAT Hans !! :P :P :P
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Michael on November 27, 2008, 09:53:39 AM
Amazing planta Hans! I really love them! Can't wait to see mine blooming though! They are doing well now :)
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Rogan on December 04, 2008, 09:28:45 AM
My brother, who's a guide in the Drakensberg, recently saw this amazing sight - Watsonia pillansii:
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ranunculus on December 04, 2008, 10:09:41 AM
Oh WOW!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Brian Ellis on December 04, 2008, 10:12:08 AM
I think perhaps double WOW! is in order. ;D ;D
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on December 04, 2008, 11:08:32 AM
Rogan, my thanks to you AND your Brother.... [attach=1]

[attach=2]
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on December 04, 2008, 11:46:11 AM
When I was in the Drakensberg area in an uncles holiday home I wanted to go plant hunting but he said it was too dangerous
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: ranunculus on December 04, 2008, 12:23:47 PM
When I was in the Drakensberg area in an uncles holiday home I wanted to go plant hunting but he said it was too dangerous

I don't think you would have frightened them THAT much, Mark!   :P
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on December 04, 2008, 12:45:23 PM
All I did see were Zantadechias, pokers, Crinums, some dainty Gerberas and a large flock of
Cape white-eyes/Zosterops - a lovely little bird acting like tits  ::)

Other birds during the trip were Glossy Starlings, Ibis - destroying the ponds in Durban botanics, Hadeda, White-faced Whistling ducks, Bateleur, Fish Eagles, Roller, Bee-eaters, various Hornbills, Bulbuls, Robins, Sunbirds and the list goes on. My relatives had no idea about SA flora and fauna
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Luc Gilgemyn on December 04, 2008, 03:27:52 PM
I have to agree with all the above regarding the WOW'S !!!  :o :o :o

Thanks very much for showing this marvelous view Rogan !!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on December 04, 2008, 07:42:26 PM
My God!
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Diane Whitehead on December 04, 2008, 08:56:46 PM
Western Australia has happy colonies of watsonias.  I was there in October
and I think missed most of the flowers. There were leaves as thick as
grasses in a lawn, filling up a damp shady area.

There were more flowers across the road, perhaps because it was in the open.
It had different colours - white, apricot, various pinks.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Maggi Young on December 04, 2008, 09:09:09 PM
How pretty, Diane. Such a photo in the UK would be of Digitalis in varying colours. The foxgloves enjoy the roadsides and particulalry like areas where trees have recently been felled, leaving open space for them to see the sun.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Lesley Cox on December 04, 2008, 09:41:50 PM
It is because of their propensity for increase that some Watsonia species are prohibted imports to NZ and illegal to have in one's garden or on the farm. Rogan's magnificent picture would strike terror into the hearts of the bureaucratic boffins of MAF and ERMA, but of course it's the difference between growing like that in its own natural habitat (marvellous) and in someone else's invaded habitat (terrifying).
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on December 08, 2008, 02:43:41 PM
I'm confused (it's a state I'm quite used to!) I have seed that the envelope says is Gladiolus micranthus but I can't find any reference to it in the Colour Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs or on the PBS Wiki. I looked on the Kew Checklist and find two things:- one that it is a synonym of G. ferrugineus and is therefore from South Africa, but a second that G. micranthus is an accepted name and it is from Turkey. Can anyone enlighten me please?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on December 09, 2008, 08:06:04 PM
No one?????? ???
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on December 10, 2008, 05:13:27 AM
David,

I checked in a few of the references I had here and couldn't find mention of it unfortunately.  Sorry.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on December 10, 2008, 07:41:25 PM
Thanks for trying Paul.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on December 11, 2008, 10:04:40 AM
David,

No problem.  People have said for years that I'm trying, so I have to live up to it.  ;) :P

Good luck with the gladdie search.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Mick McLoughlin on December 11, 2008, 12:38:37 PM
Reference here David also says Turkey.
http://ww2.bgbm.org/_EuroPlusMed/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=51377&PTRefFk=500000
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: David Nicholson on December 11, 2008, 01:13:15 PM
Mick, thanks very much for that. I'm still in a quandry though because one of the two entries on the Kew Checklist (the other gives a Turkey reference) says

"Gladiolus micranthus Baker. Bull. Herb. Boissier.  This name is a synonym of Gladiolus ferruginea Goldblatt and Manning. Gladiolus of South Africa. 81 (i988)

Guess I'll have to sow the seeds as summer growers and see what comes up.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Oron Peri on December 26, 2008, 11:27:40 AM
Lachenelia aloides var quadricolor is in flower now,
intresting to see the transformation from bud to flower.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on December 31, 2008, 08:16:56 AM
Howdy All,

Some Gladiolus dalenii hybrids that I have flowering at the moment.  All from different source, all different, but they put on a lovely display every summer providing the thrip don't hit them too badly.
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: mark smyth on December 31, 2008, 11:55:17 AM
Paul are those garden centre Gladioli?
Title: Re: South African bulbose plants 2008
Post by: Paul T on December 31, 2008, 11:59:58 AM
Mark,

No, they're the smaller species types.  Nowhere near as large in the flower, but some can grow to 6 foot tall in absolutely ideal conditions.  Some of them are also at least partially stoloniferous, as they do keep popping up at a distance from the original clump.  They're prolific things, but at the height of summer they're brilliant.  I can always send you a corm or two if you're interested, as I have plenty of them.  Apparently, depending where in the range you get the original dalenii species from, it can flower at any time of year.  There are different colonies that flower each time of the year.  I have another that flowers later in summer I think, plus I have one that flowers in early winter.  They're all similar to a degree in form, but all slightly different in timing, or colouration, or height etc.
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