Miscellaneous spring bulbs

[Hoy]

C. virginica seems to tolerate much drier habitat than sibirica?

[RickR]

C. virginica seems to tolerate much drier habitat than sibirica?

I would say so, since it disappears underground as a "dormant" bulb over the heat of the summer.  The Tulip tree is very tall and narrow, and lends little shade the the ground directly beneath. The soil gets very dry and warm.

[McDonough]

This Trit has been in bloom for a week or so, Triteleia grandiflora var. howellii, found in British Columbia and Washington State, Oregon, and California.  I tried in vain to get some goods pics, but finally got a few decent ones yesterday... I think it liked the 92 F heat (33 C), and there were still air moments, where these 24" (60 cm) wands could stand still for a few seconds.  The flowers are large and soft powder blue, never failing to bloom each year.

http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TRGRH

[Hoy]

Nice plants!
I have tried Triteleias here but they too soon disappear. Don't know why but maybe slugs. What else?

[McDonough]

Nice plants!
I have tried Triteleias here but they too soon disappear. Don't know why but maybe slugs. What else?

I haven't noticed slugs ever attacking mine, but then again, I don't have much of a problem with slugs, particularly in the open dry sunny areas.  I took a cue from how I'd see these plants growing in nature, often in heavy clay soil that gets sunbacked in summer.  My game plan, was to use our heavy rocky clay soil as a base, the soil (if you can call it that) broken up a bit from it's rock hard state, bulbs planted on top of that layer, then light sandy mix covering the bulbs. Grow in full sun; one exception is T. grandiflora howelllii that is growing under a Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), although it might as well be in full sun, the Chionanthus is among the latest trees to leaf out and is only breaking bud now.  I've had good luck with Trits over the past 10 years or so, using this technique, although it is very unlikely that they'll ever take over the garden.

[Hoy]

I haven't noticed slugs ever attacking mine, but then again, I don't have much of a problem with slugs, particularly in the open dry sunny areas.  I took a cue from how I'd see these plants growing in nature, often in heavy clay soil that gets sunbacked in summer.  My game plan, was to use our heavy rocky clay soil as a base, the soil (if you can call it that) broken up a bit from it's rock hard state, bulbs planted on top of that layer, then light sandy mix covering the bulbs. Grow in full sun; one exception is T. grandiflora howelllii that is growing under a Fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), although it might as well be in full sun, the Chionanthus is among the latest trees to leaf out and is only breaking bud now.  I've had good luck with Trits over the past 10 years or so, using this technique, although it is very unlikely that they'll ever take over the garden.

Thanks for advice. I will try'em again and find clay and sand! And should they take over the garden I will not complain.

[McDonough]

Another Trit has been in bloom for nearly two weeks, still looking great today (very long bloomers they are), Triteleia lemmoniae.  This is a rare species with a restricted geographical distribution in Arizona.  My favorite aspect of this species, is how the spent flowers turn a rich red-brown color, adding to the effect.  It is also a very small species, just a few inches, whereas many Trits are much taller growers.  It has been hardy here for the last 6-7 years I've grown it, increasing very slowly.

USDA map and data page:
http://www.plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TRLE4

Flora of North America
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102033

More info and pics:
http://www.delange.org/LemmonsStar/LemmonsStar.htm

[Hoy]

Never heard of (and never seen before)! Now it is on my list of plants to try to get hold of!

[McDonough]

Yet another Trit flowering, one of Jim Robinett's selections, Triteleia laxa 'Sierra Giant'.  The flower stem is about 14" tall (35 cm) with a very large umbel of large silvery lilac funnels, shiny and rose-tinged at the outside base of the florets.  These large-flowered Trits always surprise me, in that their foliage is a mere pair of minimal basal leaves, little indication at how much they do up in the air above.  The waxy flowers last for weeks.

[Hoy]

I have at least heard about Triteleia laxa! But this selection is better than any I have seen (pictures of).

My picture is not of any plant taking first price in  color display but the fragrance is better!
The plant in front to the left is a perennial Tropaeolum from seed, it has not flowered yet.

[Hoy]

Not the most flamboyant of bulbs but Ornithogalum has charm. This particular species, O. umbellatum, I collected in Morocco a couple of years ago. No problem growing it outdoors.

[Todd Boland]

I'm not sure if my O. umbellatum are even showing buds yet....Triteleia don't bloom until late July here!  My goodness, I never realized just how far behind we are in Newfoundland...especially this year!

[Hoy]

I'm not sure if my O. umbellatum are even showing buds yet....Triteleia don't bloom until late July here!  My goodness, I never realized just how far behind we are in Newfoundland...especially this year!

Then you have the opportunity to enjoy the blooming when it is finished elsewhere!

[McDonough]

More Trits; there are always more Trits

Three species blooming more or less at the same time.  Triteleia hyacinthina is an easy species that'll seed around when happy, with lots of full heads of white blooms.  Each floret is typically nerved with a green, blue-green, to blue midvein.  It is adaptable, and seems to do best in heavy soils that are moist in spring but allowed to dry out in summer.

T. laxa is amazingly variable, and at least a few distinct forms have been selected and named.  Previously I showed the silvery lilac 'Sierra Giant' which flowered weeks ago, now the deep blue T. laxa 'Humbolt Star' is in bloom, both being Jim Robinett selections.  This is a large and showy feast for the senses.

The last is T. bridgesii (formerly Brodiaea bridgesii), which seems to be diminishing in size and I worry about it's demise after a near decade of splendid bloom.  I show one photo from this year, a bit late because some of the flowers have gone by, but it is a mere ghost of itself compared to previous years.  Also, I had two color forms, one with a more prominent white eye, but have since lost that distinctive form... I include a poor quality photo that shows these two color forms back in early 2000s.  I include two older lesser quality photos that show these two color forms back in early 2000s, the last photo giving an idea of scale of the flower head, which is huge!

Lastly, for those who want to know more, I supply links to additional photos, distribution maps, and info.

Triteleia hyacinthina
Flora of North America
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102030

USDA Plants Database, distribution shades in all of British Columbia, although the species just edges into British Columbia over the USA border:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TRHY3

CalPhotos:
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Triteleia+hyacinthina


Triteleia bridgesii
Flora of North America
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102025
USDA

USDA Plants Database
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TRBR7

CalPhotos:
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Triteleia+bridgesii


Triteleia laxa
Flora of North America
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102032
(note:  shows the distribution to be California only)

USDA Plants Database
http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=TRLA16
(note:  shows the distribution to be California & southern Oregon)

CalPhotos:
http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Triteleia+laxa

[Hoy]

At last a Triteleia I grow! I believe it is the same species, T. laxa. I have grown them for some years but they do not flower before July here.