Tritonia

Does anyone grow these? I just ordered some and they look really beautiful, I have never grown them before and would like any info I could get. Plant files does not have much. If mine grow like the pictures I will post them in plant files.
Rebecca

Well, you are in the right zone. I'm trying some red single ones (T.crocata) to see how they will do here. They are supposed to only be hardy to zone 10. They are winter growing from South Africa--need it bone dry during dormancy, I hear. Some say their care is similar to crocosmia--we shall see how they like humidity. Here is the PBS entry on them. Looks like they like California and they sure are pretty, in my opinion.
http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Tritonia

Debbie

I hope they do well for us, crocosmia sure does. I have 5 colors, I got them from "easy to grow bulbs". I got lots of watsonia from them this year, 10 colors, I know they do well here. Hopefully they are like the watsonia and don't need summer water, we are very dry in the summer.
Rebecca
Just going back to that site, there sure are a lot of them, and they are beautiful.

I have seriously got to get this one, Tritonia karooica

http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Tritonia/Tritonia_karooica_jh.jpg

Habitat pic, they remind me of species gladiolus

http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/files/Tritonia/Tritonia_karooica_Middelpos_msi.jpg

Tritonia karooica.

WOWEE!!!!!!!!!

Takes my,,,,, breath awayyyyyyyyyy.......

Well that one is stunning. I am hoping these do well for me, I fell in love with then on the easy to grow bulbs site. Just had to have them. If and when I get flowers, I will post pictures on plant files.
Rebecca

Any of the South African bulbs will do well for you. Your climate is the same as mine. You should also try Freesia, Ixia, Babiana and Sparaxis. Just make sure they're planted no more than 1-2 times deeper than the diameter of the bulb, are in fast-draining soil and get NO WATER when they're dormant in the summer. What that basically means is that you put them in the ground and never water them. Next year the leaves will come up about October/November, stay green all winter, blooms will appear in the spring and then the bulbs will go dormant. A little fertilizer during the growing season won't hurt.

You can get a lot of information on all kinds of bulbs from the Pacific Bulb Society: http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/PhotographsAndInformation

Marilyn

I lived for years in Santa Clara, Ca. Its a wonderful climate. I have found there are things that will grow there and not do well here. I love crape myrtles and they will not flower here as we don't have enough summer heat. Same with most of the hibiscus. But on the other hand, I have found I can grow things here I could not there. I have a large heather garden, I just love the heath and heather, could not grow them down there because of the heat and most of them want acid soil. A few will survive but not thrive like here. But the bulbs seem to be okay, our winters are wetter so we need to be more careful with the drainage, but the summers are equally dry. I do have lots of bulbs, I especially like the S. African ones. Its very nice to be able to plant out things and never have to water them!

I am waiting for my bulbs to arrive, should be here this week.
rebecca

I'm in San Pablo, about 10 miles north of Berkeley, and I also volunteer at the Berkeley Botanical Garden. South African bulbs do VERY well at both locations. I don't have the heat here either. It doesn't get as hot in the East Bay as it does in Santa Clara, and it also doesn't get as cold. Gold Beach's weather is very similar to ours.

Marilyn