South African Bulbs 2015

[Darren]

Hi Rimmer - The seeds were sown in a mix with 25% organics but after their first year they were moved into a much less organic mix - maybe 10% organics at most. I can just see a few flakes of bark on the surface in the picture. Watering starts early September with the other Cape bulbs.

[angie]

Gethyllis villosa, first flowers in a potful of seedlings from Silverhill seeds sown June 2012. Much faster to reach flowering than I had anticipated. The two flowers are from separate bulbs and have done exactly as usual for the genus - both appeared simultaneously on the same day last week in (presumably) response to the weather turning a bit cooler and/or barometric pressure dropping.

Really lovely Darren, haven't had much luck with this bulb so its good to hear your thoughts in your later post.

Angie 

[Chris Johnson]

Gethyllis villosa, first flowers in a potful of seedlings from Silverhill seeds sown June 2012. Much faster to reach flowering than I had anticipated. The two flowers are from separate bulbs and have done exactly as usual for the genus - both appeared simultaneously on the same day last week in (presumably) response to the weather turning a bit cooler and/or barometric pressure dropping.

Very nice, Darren.

The Gethyllis genus is new to me, but I was surprised to note it in flower so early. Reading up, it would appear to flower much earlier than other members of the genus. I would have been tempted to start watering as soon as the flowers appeared, but waiting till autumn presumably mimics the natural season in South Africa.

[Darren]

Thanks Angie & Chris,

I noticed yesterday that another seedling in the pot has put up a flower bud. Still bone dry and will stay that way for a few weeks yet.

Some more South Africans - opposite ends of the spectrum with regards attractiveness:

Wurmbea sp (LEG203?) This was from AGS seed listed with this collection number in 2006 2010. I did once ask on the forum if anyone knew anything about it but got no reply. I'm guessing it is from Lesotho and is summer growing. The second picture has my finger nail for scale!

Then there is Haemanthus humilis hirsutus. The pot had 5 flower spikes last year (all from separate bulbs/clones) and set loads of seed, which may have discouraged it from flowering so well this year. Or maybe it just wants repotting. This is getting a little water now as it starts showing leaves.

[Maggi Young]

Wurmbea sp (LEG203?) This was from AGS seed listed with this collection number in 2006. I did once ask on the forum if anyone knew anything about it but got no reply. I'm guessing it is from Lesotho and is summer growing. The second picture has my finger nail for scale!

 Yes, you asked about this in 2011, Darren.

I now know that    LEG  stands for the Lesotho-Edinburgh-Gothenburg Botanical Expedition 

[Darren]

Thanks Maggi - I'd guessed LEG was something like that.  2011?  Even when I wrote 2006 I was sure I hadn't had the plant as long as that but given how time flies these days....

[Maggi Young]

But maybe the AGS seed was from 2006, Darren?

[Diane Clement]

But maybe the AGS seed was from 2006, Darren?

This seed was listed in the AGS 2006/07 list, as garden collected, in order words it was perhaps second or third generation from the original collection LEG  Lesotho-Edinburgh-Gothenburg Botanical Expedition which was in 1997. 
Here's the link to RBGE listing the plant as 
Wurmbea burttii

[Darren]

Thanks Diane - that's brilliant 

[fermi de Sousa]

I have to grow the ornamental romuleas in pots because R. rosea is a major pest here and we instinctively pull it up if we sight it in the garden!
We have a few in flower now:
Romulea sabulosa is a brilliant colour but needed more sun to open wide;
Romulea tetragona has different foliage but I'll still keeping it in a pot!
Romulea hirta came labelled something else but I'm pretty sure of its identity now,
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Fermi,

I grow ornamental Romuleas too. So far none of them have turned out to be a thug, however I have not grown R. rosea either. By what means is R. rosea a pest? Seed? Bulb division? All of the above?

Romulea are easy enough in containers and look good too.

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Robert,
Mostly seed - I think most seedpods contain a few dozen seeds which can persist in the ground for ages.
Considering it could only have come to Australia after white settlement it is amazing how it has spread around southern Australia. We have paddocks where there is more romulea than grass!
cheers
fermi

[Robert]

Hi Robert,
Mostly seed - I think most seedpods contain a few dozen seeds which can persist in the ground for ages.
Considering it could only have come to Australia after white settlement it is amazing how it has spread around southern Australia. We have paddocks where there is more romulea than grass!        
cheers
fermi

Fermi,

For me, it seems that caution is advisable. Thank you.

[fermi de Sousa]

Robert,
you can understand our concerns! 

Perhaps not exactly a bulb, but this Bulbinella came to us via a Seedex as B. cauda-felis but it appears more likely to be Bulbinella eburnifolia. Anyone able to confirm or reject this suggestion?
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Lapeirousia oreogena
Babiana odorata seedling (so it may've hybridised with B.pygmaea)
Moraea macronyx
Moraea bipartita
cheers
fermi