South African bulbose plants 2009

[fermi de Sousa]

Amazing Fermi!!! I just googled Crossyne, and i can clearly see the rivalry between the leaves and flowers in means of beauty! Does that plant sets seed?

Hi Mike,
I've posted some pics to the "Autumn in the SH" Thread, to show the three flowerheads all opening at the same time.


and these helpers might also mean that we get seed this year:




cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Hi Fermi- have you any idea how large the bulb of the Crossyne needs to be before it will flower? I have had one for a few years, it is in leaf just now, and it is about the size of a plum but hasn't flowered yet.
Simon

Hi Simon,
can't be sure as these bulbs languished in a pot for several years before I got a place for them in the garden. They were sown in 1998, so the first one took 10 years to flower from seed. However they might've taken less time if they'd been planted out earlier.
I haven't dug up the bulbs since they were planted about 6 years ago so again I can't say how big a flowering sized bulb will be. I'm tempted to dig them up next summer as they are actually too close together now! The leaves may give you some indication as to how big the bulbs should be as they stayed pretty narrow for a first few years and about 3 years ago they had got to the point where they were about 2.5 inches (~7cm) across, which must be the "adult" size.
Here's a close up of a flower of the "very yellow" one and the "very pink" one without bees!




cheers
fermi

[BULBISSIME]

Thank's fermi for this pics !
I haven"t seen them before and your plants looks very healthy and robust !
10 years to get the first flower.... good job fermi !! 

[Sinchets]

Thanks for the information Fermi- I bought mine as a small bulb maybe 8 years ago- it's had a hard time moving around with me, but seems much happier here on a windowsill in Bulgaria where we get a better quality of winter sun- it's back up to 2 leaves this year- after some time with only 1- so here's hoping.
Simon

[FrazerHenderson]

Can I confirm whether UK residents require a phytosanitary certificate in order to import bulbs  from South Africa? Or are all bulbs out of bounds and we are restricted to seeds?

[Maggi Young]

Always best to check with DEFRA, Frazer..... but this is a quick guide...... http://www.defra.gov.uk/planth/publicat/ifindoubt.pdf

I think all bulbs from outside the euro-meditterranean zone require phyto  certs.

[Ezeiza]

Seed is not so bad, in that if you plan to enjoy this hobby for long, you will be obtaining virus free plants. Granted the amaryllids are very slow this way, but on the other hand you can keep them for decades with only a few demands.

If you are going to import material from South Africa, try to find information from reputable growers concerning the sanitary condition of the bulbs. There are a few firms that sell material of great quality. Several South African bulbs are obtained from Dutch sources, ready to plant and without having to change the Hemisphere, which is not easy with adult plants.


Regards

[Luc Gilgemyn]

Luc, it's 35 cm tall.

Thanks Miriam, it is now on my 'wants' list...   

[Miriam]

Two species of Geissorhiza:

Geissorhiza tulbaghensis


Geissorhiza radians

[Melvyn Jope]

Two plants in flower today, Moraea loubseri and Gladiolus usyiae. The latter gives the added pleasure of being very fragrant.

[Onion]

Wonderful plants Melvyn.
The Gladiolus is a eyecatcher. Never think of this combination in this genus.

[Ezeiza]

Are you the real Melvyn Jope?

[Melvyn Jope]

Certainly never been asked that before,I hope so!! I am intrigued, is there more than one?

[Maggi Young]

Gentleman, allow me to make the introductions: Alberto Castillo, this is Melvyn Jope. Melvyn, this is Alberto.

Both of you are the genuine article, I  believe    We don't encourage imposters

[Lesley Cox]

We know Alberto well by now, but could you give a little information about Melvyn please? down here in the Antipodes, his is not a well known name.