Fall-flowering bulbs

Sternbergia does pretty well down here.

Thanks Debbie I was wondering if I just made a huge mistake. I added it onto a perrenial order that I placed back in June. How are you?

tired--lol

I can only imagine with the damage that Ike has caused!!

Schizostylis is hardy here but never blooms....it buds so late that they are killed before they open. However, check out this Gladiolus saundersii...blooms every year in mid-late Sept. I didn't think it would bloom this year as the stems were quite small, but it did anyway!

Yum!

Colchicum autumnale are starting to bloom here in zone 3 too - at the early end of the usual time range, judging from my from my pics over the years. No sign yet of the doubles and the other species.

Well, I went out and searched again for my Cyclamen hederifolium... no sign of them, sigh. After sacrificing many innocent victims to this zone experiment, it might be time to give up on that one!

Fortunately, I can enjoy C. purpurascens though... and I finally found a seedling! I have a suspicion that the ants run off with the seeds, as soon as they're ripe (as with Hepatica)... is there any evidence to support my notion?
I really enjoy the leaf patterns on these:


This message was edited Sep 19, 2008 8:26 PM

And on this one (note all the fallen leaves here!):

ooooooo.... ahhhhhhh.... I can't tell you how many cyclamen bulbs I've sacrificed trying to
find a home they can be happy in... or survive in. I have started seeds for them now for
probably 5-6yrs. some Coum,many hederifolium,this year purpurascens and last year
gracilius(??? going by my flakey memory). I have one spot that has had a couple
hederifolium come back but that's it.

I planted out the purp's out in a new spot... close to the springhouse. Its a bit moister there
though pretty sunny too.

yes - those are mighty fine cyclamen

Beautiful cyclamen altagardener! But does that mean that C. purpurascens is hardier than C. hederifolium? I always thought it was the other way around..

It appears that way, and it's consistent with what I've read about C. purpurascens being the most hardy.

Wonder if my Scilla scilloides will bloom this year? It's taken a couple of years off for some reason. It's nice to see a thread like this for ideas of other fall-blooming bulbs I might try!

This message was edited Sep 20, 2008 8:37 AM

Cyclamen purpurescens is the most cold hardy here also, but much harder to find sources for it. Most hederifolium are hardy here too, but you can come upon less hardy genetics, at least for our z4 climate.

Scilla scilliodes I have had since 2001. It seems to like more moisture than you would think. Most years (the good blooming years) foilage remains all summer, almost up to blooming. Heat doesn't seem to bother it as much as water availability. This year, just since mid June, we are running with a 6 inch deficit of rainfall. That's right, we have had almost none. scilliodes leaves disappeared the first week of July. I have just a couple lone flower spikes now. Scilla numidica (seems to be just a larger growing scilliodes, and maybe it is) hasn't shown flower spikes at all.

Well, that's good to know, Rick... maybe if I start watering now...

Never seen that Scilla to buy....have to start looking more diligently.

Purpurascens is the hardiest here too...hederifolium is Ok if you find the right spot. Coum is borderline but I have 7 of them so I will be trying one outside this winter to see.

First Colchicum agrippinum is open.

I was whining too soon. I have a cyclamen in bloom & three that survived in another
area. Not as photogenic as those already posted here but made me very happy!

Here's a colchicum "waterlily"

And another colchicum. I think it was simply "alba"

Need to get more colchicums-love that white and the patterns on your agrippinum, Todd. GOSH!

Lovely Tammy...my Waterlily is the last Colchicum to bloom...generally late October...no signs of it yet.

I also would have put out a GOSH! regarding C. agrippinum, except I was already exposed to its beauty from Jānis Rukšāns's book. So all you get from me, Todd, is a WOW!.

Tammy, I'd say your colchicums are quite photogenic.

I have a few dozen seeds of S. numidica from 2007, if anyone would like to try. Scilliodes seeds around a bit, but numidica hasn't. However I think it is because where numidica grows (full sun) it is mulched heavily with leaves the entire year. Scilliodes is only lightly mulched, in part shade.

A local friend of mine who gave me the C. agrippinum just sent 40 corms to Janis since he had lost all his! I have two new Colchicum from Janis which are just sprouting. Also got some tulip, allium and ornithogalum species from him.

Cool, Todd! I am reading about his travels in Central Asia. A lot of the stuff he found there he catalogged so you can trace his stock to particular places. Makes them all that much more interesting and valuable.

Uh-oh.

Sternbergia lutea

OK, I am relieved that it looks like I still have a nice cluster of Sternbergii. I counted over 30 blooms today. plus a couple that have already wilted. Either the critter passed them by or the remaining bulbs have multiplied. They certainly light up this little edge of the path.

Chris

Unkown Colchium. Can anyone ID it?

This is my first time growing colchiums. This was sent to me in an order of 6 Colchium tenorii, but it doesn't look at all like C tenorii. The other bulbs that I assume are Colchium tenorii have narrow petals that are rosy lilac with a narrow white center line. Does anyone know what this might be?

Chris

Reminds me of my speciosum 'The Giant'..that one has a distinct white throat.

Another week and the colchicums will be looking good here.

Thanks, Todd.

Chris

My newest colchicums, purchased last month from Janis Ruksans. This is Beauty of Heemstede

and Jarka

and Crocus longiflorus is finally opened...the first of the true fall crocus for me.

I love Jarka!! They were sold out on B & B.

Molto bello!

Some more Colchicum...C. byzantinum

C. 'Violet Queen'...a floppy one that the slugs love!

and another shot of C. agrippinum

I must start posting more pictures. I have had some gorgeous plants that have come and gone. I love that acis. Mine flowered and I was lucky to spot it in my raised bed under a huge helianthemum so it will have to be moved to a more prime spot. My crocus and colchicum are just starting, a joy to have some sunshine in autumn to bring them out after a miserable summer.

oh yes... please do share more pictures! :-) And remind me to order fall blooming bulbs
next spring!

My Zephyranthes rosea started to bloom all at once after three days of rain.

The flower is small for Zephyranthes but beautiful color.

Stunning! Wish I could grow those!

Hi Goldenfish!!
As always, I love seeing your posts and pictures! Thanks. I used to see these growing in Arizona and I miss them. I can't grow them here either.