South African bulbose plants 2009

[David Nicholson]

Maybe Albuca humilis which is very short but under glass could be drawn up somewhat. Does it smell (reputedly) of marzipan? Mine flowers with just a cm of stem, outside all year round. The bulbs become very large for the size of the plant. There's a yellow and green form apparently, called 'Karl King.'

I'll check the smell tomorrow Lesley. Both kids at home tonight and a meal out, and farrrrrrrrrrr to much red wine to go out to the greenhouse!!!

[arillady]

Paul if you have a few to spare sometime of the Gladiolus dalenii I would like to try them here. I do like the species Gladiolus too and many would do well here - some too well.

[Diane Whitehead]

I moved a pot of seedling Albuca shawii today and was surprised by
the smell of its leaves.  (It was sown a month ago).

My husband and I have pinched and sniffed various conifers and
concur that the closest match is that of Alberta spruce (Picea glauca).

Has anyone else noticed this?

[Paul T]

David,

I'd be inclined to agree with Lesley on the ID.  Albuca humilis was what immediately sprang to mind for me too, although mine grows with similar proportions to yours outside in sun here, rather than very short like Lesley's.

[David Nicholson]

Thanks Lesley and Paul. I couldn't detect a scent from my plants today but I am a bit 'bunged up' with hay fever at the moment. I have found out that a local nurseryman, Julian Sutton of Desireable Plants offers Albuca humilis and I have sent him the pics of my plants to match to his. I will let you know what he thinks.

[Lesley Cox]

My mother and I both had it at least 40 years ago as Albuca species from Basutoland, I think, then as A. cooperi but more recently as humilis.

[Alessandro.marinello]

today in flower
Agapanthus  inapertus subsp.  pendulus

[Alessandro.marinello]

today in  flower small Eucomis
Eucomis zambesiaca

[Ragged Robin]

today in flower
Agapanthus  inapertus subsp.  pendulus

A gorgeous sight, Alessandro, you must be really pleased it survived the storms in your garden - the deep sea blue is a beautiful colour 

[Alessandro.marinello]

it would have to resist well also to outside, but in order not to risk I prefer to hold in pot

[Calvin Becker]

I moved a pot of seedling Albuca shawii today and was surprised by
the smell of its leaves.  (It was sown a month ago).

My husband and I have pinched and sniffed various conifers and
concur that the closest match is that of Alberta spruce (Picea glauca).

Has anyone else noticed this?

Only seen your post now Diane. I have a few plants of Albuca namaquensis that set copious amounts of seed each year. I find that the seed smells quite strongly of pine/conifer when handled and seed harvested in 2007 still has a discernable odour even now.

[Hristo]

Love that Eucomis Alessandro, do you over-winter it indoors?

[Alessandro.marinello]

Hristo
I hold all my Eucomis in cold greenhouse, but I have seen in my zone also  Eucomis comosa to outside

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

I wanted to post this one in here, despite the fact I have posted it in the Southern Hemisphere topic.  More visit here I think than there, and it isn't something you see very often....

I'll include the same information here as I did in the SH topic, to explain why there are weeds and the strange structure of the plant.

These are a couple of pics of Lapierousia oreogena, which has the most amazingly bromeliad-like (but tiny) scape arrangements.  Believe it or not when not flowering this plant has tiny thread-like leaves.  It only produces these wonderful scapes with the undulating leaves etc when it is flowering.  So cool.  I can take a pic from above if anyone wants to see the arrangement more clearly.  The reason that there are still weeds in the pot with it is that those little grassy stems you see there might possibly be from non-flowering bulbs (that is how fine they are) so I am not game to do any weeding in case I pull those leaves off.  I don't think the ones in the picture ARE (I think they're a grass), but without being sure I am not taking a chance.

Enjoy.

[Sinchets]

Thanks again, Paul. I've seen a pic of the flower before, but not those fantastic leaves- you are right about bromeliad-like. I am just checking that it isn't April Fool's day, or an Australian equivalent!!