South African Bulbs/Geophytes 2018

[Maggi Young]

You cheated in two ways, Paul -  12 for 10 and you listed them alphabetically and  (possibly)  not in  order of most favourite !!!

[Paul Cumbleton]

Yes, doubly guilty Maggi! Trying to decide the order of most favourite was a step too far!

Paul

[Maggi Young]

 Gotta laugh at that - it's an unfair question isn't it?  The favourite is the one of the moment usually, isn't it? The one  in flower right in front of us at any given moment !!
 Which is good, 'cos it gives us scope for a LOT of favourites!!

[ian mcdonald]

Paul, I take it that your greenhouse is heated? Are there any of your favourite south africans suitable for an un-heated greenhouse.

[GordonT]

Awesome plant selection, Paul! I've been inspired to try a few myself.

Here's a question.... I wonder if anyone has attempted crossing Daubenya aurea with D. zeyheri, and if so, what were the results?

[Paul Cumbleton]

Ian, Yes, my greenhouse is heated (just frost-free, no more) and the hardiness of many of these plants is un-tested. While not in my top ten, when I worked at Wisley we tried Massonia longipes in an un-heated house with success - it would look awful after frost, but recovered with no obvious damage when temperatures rose. I have had Spiloxene linearis outside on the crevice garden for two years where it has survived -6 Centigrade. I suspect there are many South African bulbs that would do Ok in an unheated house, covered with fleece on cold nights, but my own experience is limited. I know at least one member of the South African bulb group who grew everything in an unheated glasshouse and did OK with many things - but they were living on the south coast so never really cold. It would well be worth experimenting. Daubenya aurea comes from one of the coldest parts of South Africa up on the Roggeveld Plateau where it gets very cold and the plants are sometimes covered in snow. Anything from that area, places such as Komsberg and so on may well be worth trying.

Gordon - I have tried several times to make Daubenya hybrids but never succeeded; unlike Massonias which hybridise readily, Daubenyas seem not so to do. I'm going to keep trying and would also be interested to hear if anyone else had tried with success?

Cheers
Paul

[Rimmer de Vries]

 Daubenya aurea seedlings, and several polyxenas ( cold lachenalias) and technophialias are planted in my cold frame which only gets covered with a sheet of polycarbonate when it gets below 15F (-10C). The sand freezes if damp and these dont seem to mine. When to gets to 10F (-12C) to zeroF i add a frost blanket under the polycarbonate sheet.
If i get a lot of seedlings i typically put some in frame to test cold hardieness.

[ashley]

Last lot of photos of my top ten. OK, I cheated..... this is really a top twelve!

A fine selection Paul.  Here's Syringodea longituba in the Cederberg mountains in July.

[ian mcdonald]

Thanks Paul and Rimmer. I might try some.

[Paul Cumbleton]

Good for you Ian. I would like to know more about hardiness or lack of it for South African bulbs. I will be doing more experiments myself, but meanwhile if anyone on this forum has experiences they can share it would be most useful. Do you grow any under glass with no heat? Have you tried any in the open garden? Any information would be helpful

Paul

[Rimmer de Vries]

Moraea polystachya

[fermi de Sousa]

Moraea polystachya

In our garden Moraea polystachya are just awakening! They'll be in flower soon
Starting to flower: Crossyne flava - only one flower-head so far - not sure if the others will bloom this year,
cheers
fermi

[Rimmer de Vries]

Two different  Geissorhiza
the dark purple is aff to G. aspera but for the yellow pollen. Leaves up to0.5cm wide

The pale one is unknown. Came from PBS BX 429 as sp. it is a bigger plant with leaves about 1cm wide and a sturdier stem than The darker one. 

[Auricular]

Not a bulb but many of us who grow south african bulbs know Rachel and Rodney from Silverhill seeds.

I'm shocked 

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/british-couple-feared-kidnapped-isis-12084474

[fermi de Sousa]

What distressing news!
fermi