October 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere

[Tecophilaea King]

Glorious, Ray.  I vividly recall the colour.  See if you can hand pollinate it for seed, as they are supposed to be quite short lived (although mine did last many years before it died out) and seed sowing is the way to keep it going.  Might be worthwhile trying that for your rouxii as well, just for your own safety.  I have some pastel shades in Ixia polystachya if you're interested in trading.  They're the latest of the Ixias for me here, and as well as the 'Baby Blue Eyes' (white with a blue eye) and pure white I have a mix of pale pinks and white with a dark eye.  You don't see them that often, which is why I am mentioning them.

Paul, if you're stuck for seed of the Ixia viridiflora, I might have some spare seed of this species later.
I suppose its no good sending bulblets, with AQIS causing some problems?

[Tecophilaea King]

Glorious, Ray.  I vividly recall the colour.  See if you can hand pollinate it for seed, as they are supposed to be quite short lived (although mine did last many years before it died out) and seed sowing is the way to keep it going.  Might be worthwhile trying that for your rouxii as well, just for your own safety.  I have some pastel shades in Ixia polystachya if you're interested in trading.  They're the latest of the Ixias for me here, and as well as the 'Baby Blue Eyes' (white with a blue eye) and pure white I have a mix of pale pinks and white with a dark eye.  You don't see them that often, which is why I am mentioning them.

Sorry Paul forgot to post the pictures of the Iris viridiflora.

[Tecophilaea King]

OK, now for something different altogether, the exquisite but sometimes temperamental Xeronema callistemon.
The spectacular red flowering Poor Knights lily, Xeronema callistemon, is an outstanding but little know plant, which was discovered on the Poor Knights Islands in 1924. It has handsome tussocks of bright green flax-like foliage from which spring the three feet flower spikes which terminate in great trusses of blossom. The flowers are made up of nectar-filled florets crowded on a horizontal stalk, almost in the manner of a bottle brush. The flowers last for a long time and their development and gradually changing colour from green to crimson is most fascinating. Though quite easy to grow in any free, loose soil where it gets plenty of sun, but give it some afternoon shade in warmer climates.  It does best in fast-draining soil, with regular, light waterings.
Wouldn't that make a nice feature fot the big rock garden.!!! 

[Tecophilaea King]

Dichelostemma ida-maia, aka as the firecracker flower, producing scarlet flowers with green tips in lat spring.
If anybody is thinking/wondering why all the flowers are so clearly visible, quite simple, I place the container on a angle/lean toward the camera, so all the flowers are now more obvious and make a better display.

[Paul T]

Bill,

The ixia is gorgeous.  If you do have spare seed that would be wonderful.  It would be interesting to see how it compares to what I used to grow here under the name as well.

The Xeronema is absolutely amazing!!!    Is this available in cultivation?  That is a cracker of a floral display.

Ray,

That Paeonia delaveyi is a stunner!!

[Tecophilaea King]

Watsonia aletroides is one of the most attractive of the smaller flowering species.
The narrow tubular flowers hang from stems about 40-50 cm. tall in spring and are very distinctive.

[Tecophilaea King]

The ixia is gorgeous.  If you do have spare seed that would be wonderful.  It would be interesting to see how it compares to what I used to grow here under the name as well.
The Xeronema is absolutely amazing!!!    Is this available in cultivation?  That is a cracker of a floral display.

I am not sure if Xeronema callistemon would be available in Austalia, you would have to make inquires from a specialist grower.
I might have seed available later, but can take up to 8-9 years to flower, best to buy a plant, (not cheap) if you don't want to wait that long.

[daveyp1970]

Bill the Xeronema callistemon is stunning and fantastic,but i adore the ixia viridiflora the colour is just to die for

[Paul T]

Bill,

Well someone must be growing the Xeronema here, as they are on our quarantine list (both your species and X. moorei).  The 8 or 9 years could well be worth the wait I must admit.  Looks like the leaves are interesting enough as well.  WELL worth it for those flowers. 

[angie]

Bill

Loved the Xeronema callistemon , never seen this plant before.
Do you have any pictures of grass trees ( Xanthorrhoea ) ?

Angie

[Maggi Young]

Felt I had to try to track this gorgeous Xeronema in the UK.... plantfinder tells me it is listed by this nursery :Trevena Cross Nurseries | Contact Graham Jeffery, John Eddy
Address Breage
Helston
Cornwall
TR13 9PY
United Kingdom 
Telephone (01736) 763880
Fax (01736) 762828
Email sales@trevenacross.co.uk
Website www.trevenacross.co.uk  ..... but a search of the site shows no sign of it.  They have shown it in previous issues of the plantfinder book too, so perhaps there is hope for another year!

[Lesley Cox]

I think Ray's Ixia viridiflora is pretty much the right thing.
(Re: October 2009 in the Southern Hemisphere  page 16...
« Reply #236 on: October 20, 2009, 11:35:01 AM » )
 On my screen it is definitely green rather than blue and the flower shape is right. It is always a sea green rather than grass.

Compare it with this hybrid, which appeared in a friend's garden.

[Lesley Cox]

Paul, the Xeronema is definitely tender. I had one once in another garden and the first light frost to touch it...dead!

[Lesley Cox]

I have some dwarf bearded irises to post but I think the locals are getting bored with them so I'll just put them on the Bearded Iris page.

[Maggi Young]

I have some dwarf bearded irises to post but I think the locals are getting bored with them so I'll just put them on the Bearded Iris page.

Saves the cross-posting, Lesley and it is easy enough to flag up here that they can be seen in the Iris pages.