Miscellaneous spring bulbs

[McDonough]

Thanks Mark,
there are not a lot R. ficaria cultivars which are well behaved in the garden. Except maybe for the sterile doubles which don't seed around so that's one way less in which they can take over the garden. R. ficaria 'Greenpetal' hasn't got a strong visual impact in the garden. You can see in the first pic how the plant as a whole looks, it's "BIO plant"  (Although I must mention that I planted this cultivar this year so it might get bigger and more distinct in the following years)
The second pic is of R. ficaria 'Salad Bowl' which is one of the most beautiful cultivars to me.

These two R. ficaria cultivars are just "too cool"; love the name 'Salad Bowl' too... I think we'll be seeing StephenB over here with a name like that   Thanks for showing the whole plant; while understated, it has a chartreuse appeal, and the extra crinkly buds add to the effect.  I will send a link to my ficaria-fancier friend, to take a look at these. I wonder what Ranunculus (aka Cliff Booker) thinks of these Rananculus?

[stephenb]

...and here I am

Actually, Ranunculus ficaria does appear occasionally in my "Salad Bowl" these days! Leaves have a good mild flavour, but should only be used raw early in the spring before flowers appear (as it does become mildly toxic later on). I had been sceptical for many years and never tried it, but was persuaded by other foragers telling me that I was missing one of the best spring salad plants in addition to learning that this species has been one of the most common wild gathered edibles in the Mediterranean countries right up to present in mountain villages (used in salads and cooked). It's common name also refers to its edibility in several European languages - including the Norwegian Vaarkaal which means spring cabbage - I think that can be traced back to Linnea who wrote that it was edible.

I visited the Hortus Botanicus in Firenze (Florence) Italy a few years ago - there's  a fantastic collection of wild gathered edibles including Ranunculus ficaria -  you can see the sign below; it says that "stems, leaves and raw tubers, pickled buds, and a few flowers decorating salads are used". However, it also warns not to use when flowering!

Actually, what I was going to ask when I saw this thread was whether anyone had suggestions for hardy cultivars? The common and garden one is pretty hardy, but the other ones I've tried so far haven't made it - Chedglow and Green Petal for example. My quest: the tastiest ficaria cultivar  

[Booker]

 I wonder what Ranunculus (aka Cliff Booker) thinks of these Rananculus?

Oh Mark,
As with politics, religion and untimely death I try to avoid discussions about R. ficaria as they seldom feature on my ranunculus radar in any way.  I adore and covet all the high mountain buttercups (and appreciate and cultivate many of the less demanding species), but rank R. ficaria cultivars about as interesting and worthy of my time as snowdrops, chrysanthemums, dahlias and hyacinths.  (I can hear the murmurings, catcalls and derision from here so I have invested in some earplugs before responding to your query)!  

[McDonough]

Oh Mark,
...but rank R. ficaria cultivars about as interesting and worthy of my time as snowdrops, chrysanthemums, dahlias and hyacinths.  (I can hear the murmurings, catcalls and derision from here so I have invested in some earplugs before responding to your query)!  

Well Cliff, you needn't worry about any derision from me on those, although admission of less than penultimate reverence for snowdrops is a horticultural offense in the UK, isn't it?

[Booker]

Oh Mark,
...but rank R. ficaria cultivars about as interesting and worthy of my time as snowdrops, chrysanthemums, dahlias and hyacinths.  (I can hear the murmurings, catcalls and derision from here so I have invested in some earplugs before responding to your query)!  

Well Cliff, you needn't worry about any derision from me on those, although admission of less than penultimate reverence for snowdrops is a horticultural offense in the UK, isn't it?

Punishable by a lobotomy ... or certainly severe pruning!!!   

[WimB]

 I wonder what Ranunculus (aka Cliff Booker) thinks of these Rananculus?

Oh Mark,
As with politics, religion and untimely death I try to avoid discussions about R. ficaria as they seldom feature on my ranunculus radar in any way.  I adore and covet all the high mountain buttercups (and appreciate and cultivate many of the less demanding species), but rank R. ficaria cultivars about as interesting and worthy of my time as snowdrops, chrysanthemums, dahlias and hyacinths.  (I can hear the murmurings, catcalls and derision from here so I have invested in some earplugs before responding to your query)!  

  Cliff, it's a good thing tastes differ.... 

[McDonough]

Colchicum kesselringii, starting to go over, but I like how the blooms are gently reclining.  By the way, the flowers are richly fragrant on this tiny plant.

[Hoy]

A very handsome species, Mark! Even in its last days.

[WimB]

Some bulbs in flower here now:

Bellevalia pycnantha
Hyacinthoides italica
and Tulipa hageri 'Little Beauty'

[Todd Boland]

Nice ones Wim.....I have these as well but late May is their normal flowering time.

[Hoy]

Wim, your spring is certainly more advanced than mine!
Nice clump of the Italian bluebell you have! I grow the commom and the Spanish bluebells, the Italian I haven't tried but it seems to be a lovely plant. Does it self seed around?

[WimB]

Nice clump of the Italian bluebell you have! I grow the commom and the Spanish bluebells, the Italian I haven't tried but it seems to be a lovely plant. Does it self seed around?

Trond,

I have it since two years and I haven't seen any seedlings yet.

[Hoy]

Nice clump of the Italian bluebell you have! I grow the commom and the Spanish bluebells, the Italian I haven't tried but it seems to be a lovely plant. Does it self seed around?

Trond,

I have it since two years and I haven't seen any seedlings yet.

Wim, is that a good or bad trait? - or it is to early to tell it's nature?
The Spanish bluebell (or possibly the hybrid with the common) selfseeds everywhere her but I do not mind!

[WimB]

Nice clump of the Italian bluebell you have! I grow the commom and the Spanish bluebells, the Italian I haven't tried but it seems to be a lovely plant. Does it self seed around?

Trond,

I have it since two years and I haven't seen any seedlings yet.

Wim, is that a good or bad trait? - or it is to early to tell it's nature?
The Spanish bluebell (or possibly the hybrid with the common) selfseeds everywhere her but I do not mind!

Trond,

for me that's a good trait...it's growing in my rock garden and I don't want it to take over. I'll check if it even sets seed this year and I'll let you know.
I have Spanish Bluebells in the garden too and they spread very rapidly indeed...I don't mind either.

[McDonough]

Nice miscellany Wim.  I wonder how hardy Hyacinthoides italica is; my assumption is that it's not hardy here, but would like to hear the experience of others who are growing this most attractive species.  'Little Beauty' is a little beauty , one of my favorites here, should be in bloom in a couple weeks, the Tulipa are jumping out of the ground, with T. bifloriformis always being the first to open, and might in fact open any day now.

A couple of items, on the left is Fritillaria pudica in bud, lots of seedling plants in various years growth.  On the right is Colchicum doerfleri at full anthesis (2 forms).  New leaf rosettes are showing nearby, so I think I'm finally starting to see some bulb increase.  This is a species appropriately sized for a trough; where it's fuzzy leaves could be seen at close hand.