Calochortus 2014

[Steve Garvie]

Overcast and dull here today and as I grow my Calochortus under glass these aren't the best of images.
The first is the Yellow Star-tulip (Calochortus monophyllus):


The second plant is one of the Pussy Ears, I think this is Calochortus tolmiei rather Calochortus coeruleus:

[Robert]

Steve,

Very beautiful photographs as usual!

Both C. monophyllus and  C. coeruleus grow naturally near our farm. The last photograph does not look like any C. coeruleus I've seen in the wild. This really does not mean anything as climate and other growing conditions can change the coloration and appearance of a plant.

Around here, both C. monophyllus and C. coeruleus grow where there is extreme heat and dryness during the summer, often on south facing canyon slopes where temperatures can easily get 40c or more during the summer.

They look excellent. Thanks for sharing.

[ashley]

... these aren't the best of images.

Ah Steve, surely they're not that bad

Extraordinary flower structures, beautifully shown. 
Thanks too Robert for perspective on wild populations. 

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks for sharing these pics, Steve,
What amazing flowers!
How do you grow them? Did you raise them from seed?
cheers
fermi

[Maggi Young]

Anyone interested in these plants who does not have the book " Calochortus (Mariposa Lilies & their Relatives)" by  Mary E Gerritsen & Ron Parsons may be pleased to learn that the AGS has it on a special AGS Members' offer of only £5 per copy at the moment - something of a bargain! 

[Steve Garvie]

Thanks for sharing these pics, Steve,
What amazing flowers!
How do you grow them? Did you raise them from seed?
cheers
fermi

Thanks Fermi!
The monophyllus was bought as a mature bulb last year, the tolmiei is from seed. I bought seed of various species from Jim Archibald a number of years ago -much of it wild-collected. Germination was variable and I ended up with about 12 species.
I lost interest in plants for about 12 years but most of the Calochortus survived this period with very little watering or care. They've done quite well over the last couple of years growing under glass in full sun (Scottish sun so not that intense) in plunged clay pots. I re-pot in very late autumn using a mix containing pumice, perlite, granite grit, sandy loam and ericaceous compost. The mix is very free draining and on the acid side. I give liquid feeds when I remember. Unfortunately all the species get rather leggy here due to poor winter/spring light levels -they seem to grow better if kept bone-dry until early winter as they then come up later when light levels are improving. I should have a few more to photograph in the next few weeks.

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks, Steve,
I love this genus and look forward to more pics
If you grew the C. tolmiei from Archibald seed have you considered posting it in that thread?
cheers
fermi

[Steve Garvie]

If you grew the C. tolmiei from Archibald seed have you considered posting it in that thread?
cheers
fermi

Thanks Fermi.
The problem is that the original labels are all faded and I can't read the JJA number. This is compounded by a few of the bulbs possibly coming from Ron Ratko seed rather than JJA.

[Steve Garvie]

Purple Fairy-Lantern (Calochortus amoenus)
An endemic of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in Central California.

[Yann]

Astonishing!!! i sown seeds from Alplains last year, the babies now need to grow 6 years  

[Robert]

Astonishing!!! i sown seeds from Alplains last year, the babies now need to grow 6 years  

Yann,

You might be surprised and get some blooming plants in as little as 3 years. And without pushing them at all, which they don't seem to like around here.

[arillady]

Beautiful Calochortus amoenus Steve.

[reifuan]

the pendulous Calochortus are so elegant and refined, such a shame you never see them here

[Steve Garvie]

Calochortus kennedyi var. munzii

Unfortunately the flowers are past their best (-one of the many drawbacks of work is being unable to check on plants daily!).
I bought seed of this variant and the nominate kennedyi from Jim & Jenny Archibald many years ago. The labels were long ago mixed up by the cat (who took to sleeping in the dry sunny frame housing the Mariposas) and I had assumed that I had lost both variants. It is distinguished from other similar yellow flowered Calochortus by the Peacock Moraea-like blotches on the base of the petals.
Now I need to get some seed of kennedyi kennedyi!

[angie]

Wow that Purple- fairy lantern is so lovely, thanks for sharing.

Angie