South African bulbose plants 2009

[arillady]

Is that the normal colouration or is it due to cold? I have not seen this one before

[Paul T]

Pat,

That is definitely the normal colour.  White and mahogany is probably the easiest description.  This species, Lilaceous and tristis all have similarities to my eyes, but I don't know exactly how closely related within Gladiolus they are.  Produces plenty of little offsets too, so I can send you some if you'd like to try some at the end of the season?

[arillady]

Paul I would love some to grow here.
Many thanks.
Pat

[Hristo]

Hi Paul,
Another super bulb posting, I am looking forward to the rest of your growing season!

[mark smyth]

Tony how do you keep your Dietes alive? I brought a lot of seed home from SA but although they germinated well they all died over the winter

[mark smyth]

Paul is your plant a bulb?

[Michael J Campbell]

Mark, Dietes should survive outside with you,I have the dwarf form seeding all over the garden. Will check tomorrow if I have some seed I can send you.

[Tony Willis]

Tony how do you keep your Dietes alive? I brought a lot of seed home from SA but although they germinated well they all died over the winter

Mark

I only got it in the spring as a plant.I am growing it in a pot and I am going to keep it frost free. I have wanted it a long time and am not going to risk it outside until I can divide it and then try a bit in the garden.

[Paul T]

Mark,

If you're meaning the Gladiolus, it's a corm (I think all Gladiolus are).  If you're asking about the Lapierousa, it too is a corm.

Dietes grandiflora (or what I think is that) is actually almost a bit of a weed for me in it's spot in the garden.  Squillions of seedlings coming up all the time.  Feels awful to pull them all out, but I just don't have the space.  Sets seed very freely.  Mine has arching stems, rather than being upright as some talk about it being.  There are a couple of different looking Dietes sold here in Aus as grandiflora, and I haven't worked out fully yet whether they are different forms or different species. 

[Alessandro.marinello]

The giant Eucomis pole-evansii

[mark smyth]

Thanks for the replies

[mark smyth]

Yes I meant the Lapierousia

[Brian Ellis]

Eucomis vandermerwei just beginning to flower.

[Alessandro.marinello]

Eucomis vandermerwei just beginning to flower.

this with the exception of the others seems not appreciate the water

[mark smyth]

this with the exception of the others seems not appreciate the water[/quote]

so it should be under cover away from a UK summer?