Sternbergia 2011

[Gerry Webster]

Does anyone know how Sternbergia are behaving in the wild? I wonder if the very early flowering is a consequence of the exceptionally cold weather last winter?

[Ezeiza]

I was thinking of extra heat making dormancy shorter.

[jshields]

I only have lutea here, and it has not sent up any signs of life yet.  We are having a very hot and rather dry summer here in the Midwestern U.S.A.  I'll keep watching.

My impression was that the Europeans have has a cold, wet summer.  Maybe their Sternbergia think Autumn came a month ago?

Jim

[Gerry Webster]

I was thinking of extra heat making dormancy shorter.

No heat here Alberto. Although Sternbergia sicula  is early into leaf, I expect the relatively cold summer will result in poor flowering.

[Ezeiza]

Thanks Gerry and Jim, it is the overall early autumn as you said. On the plus side, the longer cool season will result in fatter bulbs.

                           

[PeterT]

Thanks Gerry and Jim, it is the overall early autumn as you said. On the plus side, the longer cool season will result in fatter bulbs.

                           

I'm hoping so Alberto! after the past two frozen winters and short springs

[Ezeiza]

So, instead of what it seemed years ago with those dreaful heat waves, the trend for Europe is for cooling down??

[pehe]

The Sternbergia autumn season has started here.

1. My first Sternbergia sicula flower (in a pot under glass)
2. Many more to come in the same pot
3. Leaves of he same clone in the open garden along with Colchicum montanum

This sicula clone from Janis Ruksans is very early. There is no sign of sicula graeca, sicula Dodona Gold or sicula Arcadian Sun.

Poul

[pehe]

This morning the pot of Sternbergia sicula looks like that:

Poul

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I had already shown these in early flowering autumn bulbs, but as this is the Sternbergia thread, here they are again.. 

Sternbergia lutea angustifolia in flower 1 month earlier than last year... 

[bulborum]

WOW Poul

  what a pot

Roland

[Gerry Webster]

This morning the pot of Sternbergia sicula looks like that:
Poul

That's really impressive Poul. 

[Maggi Young]

Better get ready to resuscitate Ian again.........

[pehe]

Thank you Roland and Gerry!
Sternbergia really appreciate being grown in a big pot. I have several of the same sicula in smaller pots and they don't perform as well.

Poul

[BULBISSIME]

Sternbergia clusiana is also flowering now, 1 month earlier than usual.