Calochortus 2009-2010

[Ragged Robin]

Wonderful photos of your C. luteus, Luc, and a a really lovely colour 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Thanks David and Robin !
They are in big pots - potted up back in September last year, they stayed outside only protected from rain. Watered only once or twice, they remained outside except for the weeks when we had hard sustained frost - I then got them inside in the frostfree veranda.  After the frost they went outside again, in the open, until they started flowering. Since then I stopped watering them and keep them inside again when rain is threatening.  I have only 3 pots so I can move them in and out without too much hassle.  I intend to keep them completely dry and warm in the veranda until repotting time in September.
It's my first experience with them so I'll have to wait and see what the results are next year.  

[fermi de Sousa]

Thanks for posting these pics, everyone.
I've just planted some of these varieties so will be looking forward to seeing them flower towards the end of the year!  The ones from previous years (CC superbus, albus, clavatus) are starting to make top growth already.
cheers
fermi

[David Nicholson]

I'm very much in learning mode as far as Calochortus are concerned and these would perhaps have benefited from deeper pots (deeper than the 9cm. suare plastic pots I used) and some support in the growing stage for the lax growth. The flowers are a bit past their best but since I wanted pics for my own files I thought I would post them here.

Calochortus superbus
Calochortus luteus

[Lesley Cox]

My late mother grew Calochortus in her rock garden, always where the stems could come up through something and so have the necessary support. There would be a Calochortus flower sitting on top of Jasminum parkeri or a daphne.

[Hristo]

Super looking Calochortus in this thread, we only have seedlings here and so this thread is a real treat and taste of things to come, keep posting please!

[Roma]

Calochortus barbatus, seed from South West seeds in 1991 has been flowering for the last two or three weeks. The label says small form but it looks rather like subsp.chihuahuaensis in the Calochortus book.  I do not think I have the seed list any more or if I do there is little hope of finding it.  It is a summer grower so does not need watering till June and is kept dry over winter. 

Last year was the first time I got seed and now have some seedlings coming along.  This year is the first time I remember (at least recently) more than one bulb flowering - and they are different!

[Maggi Young]

How lovely, Roma .... it really does look like it wants to be a fritillaria, though, doesn't it?! 

[Luc Gilgemyn]

A very beautiful but obviously temperamental little gem Roma !
Thanks for showing !

[Ragged Robin]

A beautiful little flower like a pixie cap - 'scuse my ignorance, Roma, but I would like to know if they are sepals on top of the petals?

[Lesley Cox]

Calochortus barbatus varies and most of mine are plain yellow with minimal speckling of light tan/brown. It also varies in height, up to about 30cms occasionally, but again, most of mine are less than 10cms. It seeds but also makes numerous stem bulblets and for that reason, is sometimes thought to be weedy but I don't think this is justified. It can flower from seed in less than a year depending when it is sown.

[fermi de Sousa]

Calochortus barbatus ... It can flower from seed in less than a year depending when it is sown.

Hi Lesley,
being from the warmer parts (Mexico?) I presume it is frost tender - does that mean it should be sown in spring rather than autumn?
cheers
fermi

[Lesley Cox]

It never occurred to me that it may be tender. Certainly it gets no protection here. In a pot but in the great outdoors all year round.

[Paul T]

Roma,

Beautiful Calochortus!!  The first pic almost looks like an open Fritillaria.  Great colouration. 

[rob krejzl]

Fermi,

C. barbatus self-sows for me here in zone8/9. Never see the seedlings before the end of winter.