Crocus September 2010

[Armin]

Gerry,
that's exactly what I supposed too
I'll refrain from that idea. It would be nonsense to produce such costly compost

[Martin Baxendale]

Last year I selected out about 15-20 different seedlings of Crocus nudiflorus with yellow stigmas instead of the usual orange-red. They're not as showy as the orange-red ones, but quite nice for a contrast. Most aren't flowering this year as I lifted and potted them in growth, but here are two that are. Should I label them C. nudiflorus leucostigma or just C. nudiflorus (yellow stigma)?

[Martin Baxendale]

Back in the summer I said I was going to lift all the C. nudiflorus from the high-humus bed that they've completely taken over. Well, guess what didn't end up getting done?! (like so many other things). I'll take another pic when the leaves are up, to show just how thickly they're growing - the bed is jammed full of their corms.

[Armin]

Martin,
I'm no taxonomist! Can't give you a recommendation for your naming.

But what a great number of C. nudiflorus flowers! I envy you - I've just one single flower!
I thought this species is stoloniferous when left undisturbed but my clone does not show this feature (yet)

How are the experiences from the crocus experts?

[Martin Baxendale]

My nudiflorus spread and increase a lot by stolons, which travel a long way in the high-humus bed, but also by seed. Maybe the very light high-humus compost, which can stay quite moist during summer, encourages stolon production. My main problem right now is our one-year-old new black cat which, when we let it out, races around the garden at incredibly high speeds, knocking the autumn crocus flowers flat. Luckily the nudiflorus keep producing new flowers week after week, since they're not all one clone.

[ian mcenery]

Nice pics everyone. Here is my tournefortii just starting to flower. This one has done well for me outside and I now have some reasonable clumps

Also though not a crocus   Colchicum speciosum album which also is a good doer

[Hagen Engelmann]

Martin, your population of nudiflorus shows, they like your garden very much. I never saw C nudiflorus in the wild, but it must be the same imposing picture like in your garden. Do they have yellow or orange styli?


Ian, two perfect pics of very fine autumn bulbs.

[Hagen Engelmann]

Oh Martin, now red your earlier comment about the colour of stylus. Forget my question. Because you have a lot of seedlings,is there a variation in the colour of the tepales too?

[Armin]

Martin,
thanks for your comment. Maybe I have to wait more longer until it sets stolons...

I'm familiar with your young cat problem - but be assured when your cat (or tomcat) gets older and left outside unattended it only edges its claws on your favourite shrub or tree and uses the next best sand/grit bed with your rarest galanthus bulbs as privately owned toilet Tomcats will underhandly regular fertilize your most loved perennial with urine and you will wonder why there suddenly appear stunted or brown dotted leaves and there is a penetrant smell in that corner...
In summer nights neighbour cats will visit and meet in your garden almost daily for wild noisy parties with sex and violence or vice versa
As reimbursement your cat presents you dead or half dead mice on your terrace or you find cut-off mice hads and gall bladders in a blood-bath...Hihi!
They are so cute!
Nevertheless we love our cat(s)!

Ian,
very nice clumps of C. tournefortii and Co. speciosum album.
Does your C. tournefortii set seed and how deep did you lay the corms?

[Martin Baxendale]

Oh Martin, now red your earlier comment about the colour of stylus. Forget my question. Because you have a lot of seedlings,is there a variation in the colour of the tepales too?

Not much variation in flower colour unfortunately, Hagen. Some are just a little paler or darker, and some flowers larger while some are smaller, but no major variations. The differences in the flowers in my pictures are mainly because of the different ages of the flowers - they start dark and become paler.

[ian mcenery]

Ian,
very nice clumps of C. tournefortii and Co. speciosum album.
Does your C. tournefortii set seed and how deep did you lay the corms?

Armin my tournefortii as far as I can remember never sets much seed though it bulks up well. It is planted in a raised bed I call my scree which is about 50% gravel and the corms are planted with their tops not more than 25mm from the surface and seem to settle at this depth naturally

[Armin]

Ian,
thanks. I'm surprised about the low growth deep. Interesting. I wonder if they would survive under a more continental (colder) climate.

[ian mcenery]

Ian,
thanks. I'm surprised about the low growth deep. Interesting. I wonder if they would survive under a more continental (colder) climate.

Armin

If you have a few spare why not give it a go. As I said mine are in a well drained spot in a raised bed and last winter which was quite harsh was no problem

[Armin]

Ian,
I do not have any. C. tournefortii is still on my wishlist. Usually I select species which can be pleased in my garden without any protection from sudden rainsplashs in summer or strong frosts in winter/early spring. I will buy some next season giving conditions like yours.

[ian mcenery]

Ian,
I do not have any. C. tournefortii is still on my wishlist. .

Armin I have sent you a personal email