Miscellaneous spring bulbs

Boland wrote:

Figured there weren't enough Chionodoxa species to warrant their own thread so this one can include the miscellaneous spring bulbs.  This is my first Chionodoxa forbesii (luciliae) of the season.

Nice plants! Here Chionodoxa, Scilla (incl. former Scillas), Muscari, tulips, daffodils, Corydalis and different early dicots have replaced Crocus.

The chionodoxa are starting to bloom here too, seemingly very early.
Puschkinia libanotica, seeding freely all over the yard, and a white version of same.

Like that white version!

Hyacinthella libanotica (or is it something else?) Anyway it is a sure bloomer every year.

Hoy wrote:

Hyacinthella libanotica (or is it something else?) Anyway it is a sure bloomer every year.

Trond, beautiful azure color on that one. 

As you'll probably hear over and over from me, I'm drawn to blue flowers, azure to pale blue; hope to post a photo in a day or two (although rain is predicted for the next couple days, after a LONG stretch of sunny weather) of a baby blue one; actually more of an ice blue one, Triteleia grandiflora var. howellii.

Trond, I think your Muscari is M. azureum (good call on the 'azure blooms' Mark!)

Todd wrote:

Trond, I think your Muscari is M. azureum (good call on the 'azure blooms' Mark!)

Is Muscari azureum synonymus with Hyacinthella libanotica?

From my googling, seems like it might well be...I'll have to investigate this further.

Trond, Muscari azureum is indeed now Hyacinthella azurea...I found no reference to it being H. libanotica.

Here is Chionodoxa forbesii 'Pink Giant' I planted in a rock nook at the BG.  Its been here 10 years now!

Todd wrote:

Trond, Muscari azureum is indeed now Hyacinthella azurea...I found no reference to it being H. libanotica.

OK, thanks.

Todd wrote:

Here is Chionodoxa forbesii 'Pink Giant' I planted in a rock nook at the BG.  Its been here 10 years now!

This is nice! I have always placed those bulbs in the turf but they seem to flourish in crevices too!

Spring Beauties (Claytonia virginica).

And a nice, heavily colored form.

C. virginica seems to be a tidier plant than the coarse C. sibirica I have! (not blooming yet)

Much tidier than siberica indeed!  My siberica have now moved into the lawn!

Claytonia virginica disappears rather quickly as the season progresses, and is truly ephemeral.  Of the two sources of C. sibirica I grew from seed last year, yours, Todd, were the only ones that survived the winter.  Although, a few of those croaked too.  Even of the ones I held over in pots, Todd's were the only survivors.  I do see volunteer seedlings in the garden (and in pots) already.

My original Spring Beauties came accidentally with the root ball of a tulip tree I brought from a friend's place in Chicago.  Over the years, Claytonia virginica has jumped over a lawn section in favor of another bare piece of ground under a Sambucus nigra 'Laciniata', and has established there.

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

Hoy wrote:

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.

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

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

Hoy wrote:

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.

McDonough wrote:

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

Todd wrote:

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!

More Trits; there are always more Trits ;D

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...

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...

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...

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.

Hoy wrote:

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.

Everything here is blooming a full 2-3 weeks earlier than normal, one of the earliest spring seasons on record.

A few bulbs in flower here today:

Eranthis x tubergenii
en Ranunculus kochii

Wim, do you grow R kochii outside in the ground or in pots? I am considering trying some in my garden ;)

Hoy wrote:

Wim, do you grow R kochii outside in the ground or in pots? I am considering trying some in my garden ;)

Trond,

it grows outside in the ground. In a sunny place, the soil gets rather dry in summer (since we get a lot of rain in summer too, the soil never gets bonedry, though).

While on the subject of lesser Hyacinthella and the like, I have this very fragrant  Hyacinthoides aristides in bloom right now ( a first for me). Not sure of the name, perhaps it is a Scilla, but this what it was sold as. I wish I bought more bulbs, but even this pan of 3 bulbs is very fragrant, and long lasting - this pot has been in bloom for over a month.

It's darling!

And the blue shades, captivating.

Nice, Mattus!

I love the little Scillas and their relatives, but haven't come across that one before.

Mattus wrote:

While on the subject of lesser Hyacinthella and the like, I have this very fragrant  Hyacinthoides aristides in bloom right now ( a first for me). Not sure of the name, perhaps it is a Scilla, but this what it was sold as. I wish I bought more bulbs, but even this pan of 3 bulbs is very fragrant, and long lasting - this pot has been in bloom for over a month.

I have this plant with the same name.

Two more that are in flower now:
  Scilla libanotica from Lebanon
  Scilla mischtschenkoana

Both very nice, Luc.  I must check and see whether the latter still exists in my collection.  I don't think I've seen it in a couple of years. :rolleyes:  Excellent pics.

Nice, Luc. Now I think I could easily collect this genus!

Very nice all those small springflowering bulbs! More species to try inthe garden ;)

I have been growing S. mischtschenkoana (I didn't know it was spelled this way) for years.  It is the first bulbs to bloom in the garden, even earlier than snowdrops!  Mine normally bloom in early-mid April.  Delightful species that puts on a great show.

Todd wrote:

I have been growing S. mischtschenkoana (I didn't know it was spelled this way) for years.  It is the first bulbs to bloom in the garden, even earlier than snowdrops!  Mine normally bloom in early-mid April.  Delightful species that puts on a great show.

Charming species indeed, and not very hard to grow and to multiply in the garden. I've heard it's been renamed to Scilla tubergiana (not sure if that's correct though).

Here are two small bulbs which are flowering now:

Corydalis wendelboi and the very small Fritillaria pudica.

Wim, interesting that you show Eranthis and Ranunculus kochii together, as indeed the flowers on the Ranunculus are somewhat reminiscent of Eranthis.  I only recently learned that this "tuberous" Ranunculus has become popularly grown by Dutch bulb growers, being that the tubers can be stored like regular bulbs and tubers.

Matt, really like your Hyacinthoides aristides, I wonder if it hardy enough for our Massachusetts climate outdoors.

Luc,  both species you show are attractive, although Scilla libanotica with the flat wide-open stars really catches my attention.

Wim again, my goodness your spring is early to already have Corydalis and frits in bloom.  If I were only allowed to grow one Fritillaria species, it would be F. pudica, a slow by easy grower outside, and a long-lived reliable bloomer here. Although it is a lily beetle magnet and I must pick the beetles daily.

McDonough wrote:

Wim, interesting that you show Eranthis and Ranunculus kochii together, as indeed the flowers on the Ranunculus are somewhat reminiscent of Eranthis.  I only recently learned that this "tuberous" Ranunculus has become popularly grown by Dutch bulb growers, being that the tubers can be stored like regular bulbs and tubers.

Wim again, my goodness your spring is early to already have Corydalis and frits in bloom.  If I were only allowed to grow one Fritillaria species, it would be F. pudica, a slow by easy grower outside, and a long-lived reliable bloomer here. Although it is a lily beetle magnet and I must pick the beetles daily.

Mark, they're both in the Ranunculaceae family after all.  ;)  I didn't buy my Ranunculus kochii from our northern neighbours, but I've seen it offered more and more by Dutch bulb-sellers indeed.

It seems spring has started for real now. They predict dry and sunny weather until next Tuesday at least (with frost during the night) so I guess there will be a lot more flowering plants in a couple of days. No lily beetles here yet (too early in the year I guess).

No Corydalis has started blooming here yet, but some have advance shoots now!
Wim, Do you grow C wendelboi in the garden or in pots? I have thought of acquiring that species in memory of Per Wendelbo whom the plant is named for. He died in a car accident in Bergen 30 years ago.

I would like to grow F pudica too but slugs can't resist such plants either :'(

Hoy wrote:

No Corydalis has started blooming here yet, but some have advance shoots now!
Wim, Do you grow C wendelboi in the garden or in pots? I have thought of acquiring that species in memory of Per Wendelbo whom the plant is named for. He died in a car accident in Bergen 30 years ago.

I would like to grow F pudica too but slugs can't resist such plants either :'(

Trond,

I grow C. wendelboi in a trough together with some rock plants and small plants.

Thanks, Wim. If a find a niche I'll give it a try :D

Two of the many corydalis that are coming in flower now:
Corydalis angustifolius "Talysh dawn"
Corydalis tauricola x caucasica alba

LucS wrote:

Two of the many corydalis that are coming in flower now:
Corydalis angustifolius "Talysh dawn"
Corydalis tauricola x caucasica alba

Very nice Luc, all are nice but being partial to soft pink, 'Talysh Dream' catches my fancy.  Is the last one a natural hybrid or something that occurred in your garden or in cultivation someplace?

Found this stunning series of photos on the "Visit West Crete" tourist web site, some excellent plant portraits there!

A floral ballet in motion:  Urginea maritima - Charybdis maritima - Sea squill
http://www.west-crete.com/flowers/urginea_maritima.htm

How I would like to grow Androcymbium rechingeri, ooh la la!
http://www.west-crete.com/flowers/androcymbium_rechingeri.htm

McDonough wrote:

Very nice Luc, all are nice but being partial to soft pink, 'Talysh Dream' catches my fancy.  Is the last one a natural hybrid or something that occurred in your garden or in cultivation someplace?

This one occured in cultivation no doubt, but not in my garden.
I have C. caucasica alba which is white but I don't have C. tauricola.

Fritillaria season has started with us.
All from the rhinopetalum section:
(1)-(4) Fritillaria stenanthera in different clones and different colours (steelblue, pink, white)
(5)-(6) Fritillaria ariana just starting
(7)-(8) Fritillaria gibbosa

A few other Fritillaria species from Turkey:
(1) Fritillaria pinardii
(2) Fritillaria pinardii in a black form
(3) Fritillaria crassifolia ssp. crassifolia
(4-5) Fritillaria armena

Love that rhinopetalum section, especially!

It is clear to me that Fritillaria is best cultivated indoors! I have tried several outside but slugs devour them as fast as they germinate in spring :( (And my climate isn't the best either)

More bulbs to cultivate indoors for the best results :
Tulipa turkestanica
Tulipa biflora
Tulipa sogdiana, a semi-desert species
Tulipa regelii, a semi-desert species with the most remarkable leaf

LucS wrote:

More bulbs to cultivate indoors for the best results :
Tulipa regelii, a semi-desert species with the most remarkable leaf

Remarkable leaves indeed!  Nice collection of little Tulipa species.  I remember Janis Ruksans showing many others, seems there are a whole bunch of "look-alikes" with the general appearance of T. turkestanica, most notably T. bifloriformis. The latter species I find to be an excellent rock garden species outdoors, and seeds about nicely (particularly if 'encouraged' by scratching in the seed).

Luc, you certainly have an impressive collection of well grown plants!

Very impressive indeed!
Of the ones shown, I know that T. turkestanica is very hardy and does well here outdoors too.  I am not good with Fritillaria, although F. meleagris and F. pallidiflora are fully hardy here (and tough enough to survive my "care".  ;D)

LucS wrote:

More bulbs to cultivate indoors for the best results :
Tulipa turkestanica
Tulipa biflora
Tulipa sogdiana, a semi-desert species
Tulipa regelii, a semi-desert species with the most remarkable leaf

All  nice, but regelii is exquisite!

Luc absolutely stunning plants

here are a few Cyclamen pseudibericum in flower at the moment.

Some small bulbs flowering here now:

Anemone blanda 'Ingramii'
Anemone blanda 'Radar'
Erythronium dens-canis 'Pink Perfection'
Erythronium dens-canis 'White Splendour'
Fritillaria stenanthera
Fritillaria verticilliata 'Kara-Sumbe'
Olsynium douglasii 'Alba'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Aurantiacus'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Collarette'
and Ranunculs ficaria 'Wild Red Back'

Fritillaria bucharica, a rhinopetalum from C-Asia - 3 shots during flowering time

It is clear to me, Luc and Wim, that the spring is far more advanced in Belgium than here in Norway - both inside and outside ;D
I have had Fritillaria bucharica outside but it was shortlived! The slugs seemingly are very fond of Fritillaria.

Tony, nice plants! How hardy are Cyclamen pseudibericum? I have several other Cyclamen species in the garden, the slugs let them alone.

Hoy

they have been frozen in a bulb frame this winter but only for short periods.

I have raised a batch of plants and I am going to try them outside so ask again in a year or two.

I'm late in replying, lots of good plants posted here, thanks for posting!

Last autumn I received bulbs of two forms of Colchicum kesselringii, I include a photo of one of those two forms.  The following shows a form from Jane McGary, the blooms are leafless and are incredibly tiny and cute; a good candidate for a trough.  The second form is a JCA collection, with flowers 4 times the size and spread wide open, with a short basal leaf showing, and taller stems (still short though), hardly seems like the same species... I have not included a photo of the second form.

Very nice, Mark.  It seems sort of special to me to see spring-blooming Colchicum!  That reminds me... I had one C. kesselringii - the flower was very white on the petal reverse, with only the faintest purple streaking... but I haven't seen it since 2009.  Oh well. :'(  Must try again some day.

An update to my previous post about Colchicum kesselringii, here is a photo take on this cold gray day, showing two forms I'm growing.  In the distance is the tiny form from Jame McGary, and in front of it is another form, identified as ex. S&V 94-90, HBG 1998.  The Jane McGary form is leafless when in flower, and as in crocus the flowers only open in bright sun.  The second form has basal foliage showing, and has flowers that are about 4x larger, with much longer tubes and splayed open flowers that stay open regardless of light.  I like the smaller form better.  Thanks for these JJF.

Supposed to snow starting this afternoon, so thought I'd snap some photos even with the buds closed; this is Colchicum doerfleri, another of the very small spring blooming species.  I received this several years ago from friend J. John Flintoff, and they degree of hairiness is variable, some show a fringe of hairs along the leaf edges, and another is downy with fine hairs all over the leaves.  After flowering, the leaves stay small and downy; a real cutie.

Really cool stuff Mark.  The hairs are certainly an added attraction on the last one for me. 
What conditions are your Colchicums growing in?

RickR wrote:

Really cool stuff Mark.  The hairs are certainly an added attraction on the last one for me. 
What conditions are your Colchicums growing in?

Nothing special in terms of growing conditions, I typically excavate a 6" deep hole, and amend the our native rocky silty-clay soil with about 50% sand.

I went back and found a few photos from 2010, the photo on the left showing that the bulbs I received represent two forms, one only sparingly hairy but with larger more abundant light pink flowers, and one that is very hairy, with smaller less abundant deeper pink flowers.  I like them both.  The next two photos show the hairy foliage.

Colchicum doerfleri

Wonderful Colchicums, Mark. Here they are all in leaf now as they flowered in February. Love C. doerfleri a lot...I'll have to find that species.

Here in flower now:

Corydalis bracteata
Corydalis shanginii subsp. ainae
Erythronium dens-canis 'Charmer'
Hyacinthella dalmatica
Ranunculus ficaria 'Greenpetal'
Ranunculus ficaria 'Ken Aslett'
And some Narcissus cultivars.

Really good stuff Wim, nice Corydalis, and others, we hope to get a hint of such things in the weeks to come.  I have a friend that is enthusiastic about some well-behaved forms of Ranunculus ficaria.  Ranunculus ficaria 'Greenpetal' certainly looks intriguing close-up.  Does it have any visual impact in the garden, or is it one of those collectors "BIO plants" (an acronym borrowed from George Schenk, meaning Botanical Interest Only).  I rather like this green-flowered Ranunculus, but wonder what the whole plant looks like from afar.

McDonough wrote:

Really good stuff Wim, nice Corydalis, and others, we hope to get a hint of such things in the weeks to come.  I have a friend that is enthusiastic about some well-behaved forms of Ranunculus ficaria.  Ranunculus ficaria 'Greenpetal' certainly looks intriguing close-up.  Does it have any visual impact in the garden, or is it one of those collectors "BIO plants" (an acronym borrowed from George Schenk, meaning Botanical Interest Only).  I rather like this green-flowered Ranunculus, but wonder what the whole plant looks like from afar.

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.

WimB wrote:

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 ;D  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?

...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  ;)

McDonough wrote:

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)!   :D

Booker wrote:

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)!   :D

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? ;D

McDonough wrote:

Booker wrote:

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)!   :D

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? ;D

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

Booker wrote:

McDonough wrote:

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)!   :D

;D ;D Cliff, it's a good thing tastes differ....  ;)

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.

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

Some bulbs in flower here now:

Bellevalia pycnantha
Hyacinthoides italica
and Tulipa hageri 'Little Beauty'

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

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?

Hoy wrote:

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.

WimB wrote:

Hoy wrote:

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!

Hoy wrote:

WimB wrote:

Hoy wrote:

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.

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 :D, 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.

WimB wrote:

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.

Thanks Wim ;D

Mark, I am looking forward to your F pudica! I have tried it here with no luck so far, neither have I had luck with other than the most common Colchicums either :( Nice to see that you are luckier or a better gardener (or with a better climate ;)

Hoy wrote:

Mark, I am looking forward to your F pudica! I have tried it here with no luck so far, neither have I had luck with other than the most common Colchicums either :( Nice to see that you are luckier or a better gardener (or with a better climate ;)

Trond, I don't think it is about being a better or worse gardener, I just don't have much of a slug problem here.  From the sound of it, slugs are your main nemesis.  I can understand, when I lived in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle Washington, I was overwhelmed by the constant war on gastropods.  One can fight that war, or acquiesce to the situation and grow more woodies and plants not beloved by slugs.  For every plant I couldn't grown in the Seattle area, there were plenty of other plants that I could grow that would be ungrowable back in the colder New England climate where I am now, it all balances out in the long run :D

So, enjoy your Rhododendron sutchuenense, it is beautiful, I wish I could grow it, but I have all but given up on growing most rhodies in my summer hot-and-dry garden and my winter cold-and-wind-dessicated garden.

McDonough wrote:

Hoy wrote:

Mark, I am looking forward to your F pudica! I have tried it here with no luck so far, neither have I had luck with other than the most common Colchicums either :( Nice to see that you are luckier or a better gardener (or with a better climate ;)

Trond, I don't think it is about being a better or worse gardener, I just don't have much of a slug problem here.  From the sound of it, slugs are your main nemesis.  I can understand, when I lived in the Pacific Northwest near Seattle Washington, I was overwhelmed by the constant war on gastropods.  One can fight that war, or acquiesce to the situation and grow more woodies and plants not beloved by slugs.  For every plant I couldn't grown in the Seattle area, there were plenty of other plants that I could grow that would be ungrowable back in the colder New England climate where I am now, it all balances out in the long run :D

So, enjoy your Rhododendron sutchuenense, it is beautiful, I wish I could grow it, but I have all but given up on growing most rhodies in my summer hot-and-dry garden and my winter cold-and-wind-dessicated garden.

Yes Mark, I know and agree - but I always want to have those beautiful plants that I see others are growing! I want to look at the plant in flesh and not in pixels ;D

Since I don't have a greenhouse, I have long accepted pixelated plants, thus my enthusiasm for armchair botanizing ;D

McDonough wrote:

Since I don't have a greenhouse, I have long accepted pixelated plants, thus my enthusiasm for armchair botanizing ;D

I have two greenhouses but neither are warm or very friendly in winter! And I prefere the sofa and books or magazines ;)

Nice flowers, Wim and Mark! We are almost to the stage where I could begin to believe that things could grow and flower here again, though that is still weeks away.. still more snow cover than not, but the bare areas are spreading fast-beyond paths and edges of spruce trees-- I can see things like Pyrolas and Linnaea among the dry grasses and leaves, and the first couple of semps are showing..

Always the last Erythronium here:

Erythronium helenae

Love E. helenae...saw lots of these at the 8th International Rock Garden Conference.

E. dens-canis is my first to open.  Also blooming now are Scilla miczenkoana and S. bifolia 'Alba'

Erythronium japonicum - is at least 1-2 weeks earlier than dens-canis.

My japonicum is about a week from flowering...had it for years but just a single sprout and flower per year and the flowers always faces AWAY from me!

Todd wrote:

My japonicum is about a week from flowering...had it for years but just a single sprout and flower per year and the flowers always faces AWAY from me!

;D ;D It's just shy...you should boost its self-confidence....

Some arum species which might be of interest,
Arum rupicola  which is one of the 'flag' group widespread across Turkey
Arum balansanum a rare species from NW turkey
Arum sp from the same area and may be a larger version
Arum conophalloides var virescens  another of the 'flag' group from SW Turkey and adjacent Iran and a side view to show the exterior colouring

Nice patch! My virginica (from Marathon, WI) hasn't spread much whereas sibirica would if given a chance!

Here is Fritillaria gentneri flowering today in the magnificent hilltop cemetery in historic Jacksonville in southern Oregon.

Children's paintings of Fritillaria gentneri are posted in almost every shop window in the town of Jacksonville.  Some are very creative as shown in the second photo below.  I was delighted that each painting has "Fritillaria" written on it rather than the common name used hereabouts: Red Bells.

Stunning plant! Kudos to whomever in the community/schools is getting those children to be aware of the wildflower  :)

David wrote:

Here is Fritillaria gentneri flowering today in the magnificent hilltop cemetery in historic Jacksonville in southern Oregon.

That is beautiful. We passed through there this time two years ago in complete ignorance, if only we knew what we don't know.

Tony:

Today we discovered even more delights in Jacksonville.  The Jacksonville Woodlands Association has managed to preserve a necklace of open space around the town.  There is an extensive trail system with an excellent map.

http://www.jvwoodlands.org/images/map.pdf

There are lots of Fritillaria gentneri in the woodlands and the more common Fritillaria recurva.  It is interesting to compare the two as they are closely related.  Dodecatheon hendersonii carpets the ground and we also found Trillium albidum.

Here are the two Fritillaria in the Jacksonville woods:

David they are really lovely. We did see Fritillaria recurva at McArthur -Burney Falls between Shasta and Lassen Volcanic Park it is a fine plant and Trillium albidum out from Crescent City but we are we ever satisfied!! We shall be there again at the end of June to see a different selection of plants.

These frits really are magnifique! Anybody growing them in the garden?
I have read that American frits are difficult to grow in the garden. Is that so?

David, you are creating such plant LUST with those awesome red fritillaries, absolutely stunning.  I have always wondered why these brilliant frits are not more often grown.  Not sure how hardy they will be in colder winter climates, but one can dream.  From 2003, I have this tiny little sprig of F. eastwoodiae which I got from Jane McGary.  Every year it comes up and makes a brief wispy show of vegetation, then goes dormant.  This year, finally, it is budded.  The whole thing is about 3-4" tall so far, I wonder if I have it in the wrong sort of situation, do you know what F. eastwoodiae wants?  Here's a not-so-good photo, the thing is so skinny that it is hard for the camera to focus.

I can't even grow Asian frits, let along American ones...only F. meleagris is reliable here.

Todd wrote:

I can't even grow Asian frits, let along American ones...only F. meleagris is reliable here.

Todd, at least F. meleagris is one of the best.... I love it.  There must be some other more moisture tolerant or moisture loving species that would be okay in your cool and moist climate.  Back to F. meleagris, ever notice how it takes a bow before standing upright to present its plump checkered bells?  May I present my meager little plant of F. meleagris ;)

By the way, I too agree that it is wonderful to see some early education, appreciation and respect for native flora, thanks for showing us those drawings David, they brought a smile to my face.

Todd wrote:

I can't even grow Asian frits, let along American ones...only F. meleagris is reliable here.

I am miserable at growing fritillarias, but aside from F. meleagris, F. pallidiflora does well here in regular conditions.  Just out of curiosity, have you tried that one, Todd?

Tony wrote:

Some arum species which might be of interest,
Arum rupicola  which is one of the 'flag' group widespread across Turkey
Arum balansanum a rare species from NW turkey
Arum sp from the same area and may be a larger version
Arum conophalloides var virescens  another of the 'flag' group from SW Turkey and adjacent Iran and a side view to show the exterior colouring

Tony, cool aroids... do they smell bad?  I like how your cold frame glass pane has to be open otherwise these puppies wouldn't fit!  I love Arisaema, but haven't yet succeeded with other aroid sorts.... tried a few Arums and Biarums from Mike Salmon seed years ago, but nothing successful developed with these.

Todd wrote:

I can't even grow Asian frits, let along American ones...only F. meleagris is reliable here.

I am very surprised that Fritillaria camschatcensis doesn't grow for you, Todd.  It seems to love the wet in the wild. 

I have not started F. meleagris from seed, but F. pallidiflora, after F. camschatcensis, is the easiest from seed so far.  Although, neither have flowered yet - probably next year.  (I have no wet areas on my land, but F. camschatcensis that I have from bulbs do fine in my wettest part.)

Glad you mentioned the "bowing" characteristic of F. meleagris, Mark.  I had wondered if it was just my plants.  Both regular and the white forms do it.

RickR wrote:

Glad you mentioned the "bowing" characteristic of F. meleagris, Mark.  I had wondered if it was just my plants.  Both regular and the white forms do it.

Oh, glad to hear others noticed this too... one of those little things that makes plants so fun and unique, these quirky little habits.  I think I shall start calling it the "Polite Fritilllary".  Pictures of the plant in flower always show such straight up perky looking plants, but maybe the "other" common name for this plant; Snake's Head Fritillary, versus the more common Guinea-hen Flower, refers to the plant in early bud.

Quote:

you are creating such plant LUST with those awesome red fritillaries

Lust is the right word Mark.  If only they would grow like that in the garden we would be satiated.
We hear a lot about Asian frits that require packhorse expeditions to reach and not so much about the stunning North American species that are a few minutes walk from a coffee shop or even gracing a Rest Area off I5.  I have not yet tried to grow Fritillaria recurva but I would not expect it to do well in our wet climate.  The only Frits we grow in the open garden are F. meleagris and F. acmopetala. Both do very well here.
I will have to try F. pallidiflora as you suggest.  F. camschatcensis grows in the wild in the Fraser River delta a few km from here and I have some coming from seed.  They should do well in wetter areas of our garden.

The same ones grow best here: meleagris, pallidiflora, acmopetala and camschatcensis. Here's a few pictrures

1. F. acmopetala and camschatcensis (with Camassia quamash)
2. F. pallidiflora (almost weedy - have tried to remove it a couple of times in one place and it still comes back!)
3-4. An unknown, planted as F. cirrhosa - any ideas?

Just noticed that F. involucrata seedlings planted out last year have re-emerged!

Stephen, it would seem that some frits excel in your climate, I've seen your wonderful combo of acmopetala and camschatcensis before, but never have I seen a finer clump of F. pallidiflora!  I had a single-stemmed  plant flower for a couple years then it disappeared.  Don't know the ID of your unknown one, but it is handsome.

I should have lots more frits in the garden in the coming years, I actively scratch seed into garden beds and the seedlings come up thickly.  Here's a small patch of 2-year seedlings... since not labeled, it is most likely F. crassifolia ssp. kurdica, which invariably sets fat seed pods.

McDonough wrote:

Tony wrote:

Some arum species which might be of interest,
Arum rupicola  which is one of the 'flag' group widespread across Turkey
Arum balansanum a rare species from NW turkey
Arum sp from the same area and may be a larger version
Arum conophalloides var virescens  another of the 'flag' group from SW Turkey and adjacent Iran and a side view to show the exterior colouring

Tony, cool aroids... do they smell bad?  I like how your cold frame glass pane has to be open otherwise these puppies wouldn't fit!  I love Arisaema, but haven't yet succeeded with other aroid sorts.... tried a few Arums and Biarums from Mike Salmon seed years ago, but nothing successful developed with these.

Mark they absolutely stink particularly the non flag ones. I have disposed of most of my collection on the basis that they make large plants and take up too much room only flowering for about three days in the year. They are a weed in the garden, self seeding and should not be let loose. Most of my dracunculus in the frame are dead killed by the cold. but a clump in the garden is fine. They will be much deeper in the soil and so will have avoided freezing hard.

McDonough wrote:

Stephen, it would seem that some frits excel in your climate, I've seen your wonderful combo of acmopetala and camschatcensis before, but never have I seen a finer clump of F. pallidiflora!  I had a single-stemmed  plant flower for a couple years then it disappeared.  Don't know the ID of your unknown one, but it is handsome.

Thanks! It had never occurred to me that this was a particularly fine clump  :) Incidentally, it's never received any fertiliser!  I remember once seeing a picture of a whole field of this species in flower in Roger Phillips' book Herbs - it is cultivated in NE China for the bulbs which are also used medicinally (this is also mentioned in Flora of China).

Stephenb wrote:

2. F. pallidiflora (almost weedy - have tried to remove it a couple of times in one place and it still comes back!)
3-4. An unknown, planted as F. cirrhosa - any ideas?

While I am a devotee of the red Frits. from America, recurva, gentneri etc, (they are exquisite creatures!) I have to admire Stephen's fine patch of F. pallidiflora  ;)

Your unknown is indeed not cirrhosa, Stephen, more like F. messanensis.

Maggi

Thanks, Maggi! Will look that one up...

I am planning on ordering a F. camschatcensis this fall.  Pallidiflora only bloomed once.  Imperialis is long lived here but only blooms every 3-4 years.  I've managed to keep persica as well but again, irregular blooming (no blooms this year).  Uva-vulpis and michailovski are essentially annuals.

Muscari azureum is currently in bloom.

Hi old friends, Jacksonville Oregon is only 3 miles from here and the type local for Fritillaria gentneri (rare and endangered).  As David pointed out it grows together with F. recurva and also F. affinis through out the town and woods near by.  To encourage people to protect the plants on their property the town celebrates with 'Fritillaria Days'. The children are encouraged to look for the plants in the woods on the extensive trail systems and on private properties as well.  With a huge population of deer throughout the town people are learning to protect the plants.  Now people that don't know many other plants all know and love their Frits.  I saw the first one in bloom in the cemetery this year about a week before David and Wendy came.  I'm happy they got to see them all over town.

Todd, great shot of M. azureum! 

And Phyllis (Gustafson), welcome to the NARGS Forum, very happy to have you aboard.

Todd wrote:

Imperialis is long lived here but only blooms every 3-4 years.  I've managed to keep persica as well but again, irregular blooming (no blooms this year). 

Well, at least F. imperialis blooms again eventually for you - for me, they live forever but quit blooming after the first couple of years!  I think the original, soft-ball-sized bulb breaks down and the many replacements somehow never get to blooming size.
What is the coldest zone for F. persica? I have yet to find them hardy here, but maybe I need to try again.

Nothing special or rare here, but it's a delight to see flowers after the winter!

Good stuff, Lori--you're getting some nice expanse to the spring bloom, which to me is the most important of the year--for probably obvious reasons...lol

A couple more...
Scilla mischtshenkoana; not as good a display yet as formerly (but at least the house sparrows have not yet eaten off the flowers, as happened last year.  ??? )

Chionodoxa starting to bloom:

Eranthis hyemalis; I show these puny things only to ask if they get more than 1/2" tall for anyone else in this area/zone?!?

Welcome to this wonderful forum Phyllis ... I hoped we might meet again at the Nottingham Conference?  Greetings from a very sunny and windy Lancashire, U.K.

Lori, it seems we are pretty much the same in regards to what's blooming in our gardens.  After the winter we have boith experienced, we can fully appreciate the 'common' stuff!

Flowering here now; the very good smelling  ;) Sauromatum venosum

Skulski wrote:

Todd wrote:

Imperialis is long lived here but only blooms every 3-4 years.  I've managed to keep persica as well but again, irregular blooming (no blooms this year). 

Well, at least F. imperialis blooms again eventually for you - for me, they live forever but quit blooming after the first couple of years!  I think the original, soft-ball-sized bulb breaks down and the many replacements somehow never get to blooming size.
What is the coldest zone for F. persica? I have yet to find them hardy here, but maybe I need to try again.

Nothing special or rare here, but it's a delight to see flowers after the winter!

Imperalis blooms every spring at my summerhouse, but those I have at home do not. I think the soil is to sandy and lean and that the bulbs are planted to shallow.
I have had persica outside but they die in pots and survive in the soil. This last winter was cold and we had penetrating freezing in the soil but the bulbs survived. However, no flowers.

Just more of the common stuff... but the thought of it does get me through the winter!  :)

Chionodoxa luciliae including 'Pink Giant' and 'Alba' and Iris reticulata:
     

Muscari azureum are slowing starting to naturalize:

The daffodils are starting to bloom... here's one of the first clumps of Narcissus 'Téte-á-téte':

Tulipa uremiensis:

Do you think I need to plant more Scilla sibirica????   ;D ;D
 

Common or not, it's very nice...all that spring color.

I believe more and more that the spring flowers are the most important ones, certainly in this climate!

Lori, I think you should plant more S sibiraca - of other proveniences - then you'll get even more selfsowing ;D ;D ;D

WimB wrote:

Flowering here now; the very good smelling  ;) Sauromatum venosum

Wim...I just dumped a huge pot of Sauromatum and there were literally dozens of bulbs of all different sizes! I sorted them out and potted them up into corresponding pots for sale later in the season. What a very cool bulb! ;D

AmyO wrote:

WimB wrote:

Flowering here now; the very good smelling  ;) Sauromatum venosum

Wim...I just dumped a huge pot of Sauromatum and there were literally dozens of bulbs of all different sizes! I sorted them out and potted them up into corresponding pots for sale later in the season. What a very cool bulb! ;D

:D Cool, it multiplies VERY quickly over here too, I have it for 10 years now and I have enough bulbs to stink up the entire neighbourhood  ;)  :P I give some away to friends every year and I plant some out in the garden (they survive in our climate when grown in the warmest spot in the garden against a southfacing wall)

Order arrived today form (Paul Christian) Rare Bulbs.  Definitely worth checking out www.rarebulbs.co.uk

So far, with  2 orders, they seem to have perfected hassle-free overseas shipping.  Great quality.

Worth checking out

Charles Swanson MA USA

externmed wrote:

Order arrived today form (Paul Christian) Rare Bulbs.  Definitely worth checking out www.rarebulbs.co.uk

So far, with  2 orders, they seem to have perfected hassle-free overseas shipping.  Great quality.

Worth checking out

Charles Swanson MA USA

Charles, please tempt us by telling about some of the goodies you ordered. :)

I have used Paul Christian for several years and he always delivers on time and good quality plants. I got some nice (and rather expensive) Frits last week but something dug up and ate all the bulbs during the first night :'( I had planted the bulbs on the shed roof too to avoid slugs >:(

Hoy wrote:

I have used Paul Christian for several years and he always delivers on time and good quality plants. I got some nice (and rather expensive) Frits last week but something dug up and ate all the bulbs during the first night :'( I had planted the bulbs on the shed roof too to avoid slugs >:(

My goodness Trond, what A sad development.  You might have to cover your bulbs with wire mesh in the future to protect them, or as some people do, plant them in sunken wire "baskets" so that the protected bulbs can be lifted and divided somewhere down the road.  The squirrels and chipmunks are working overtime right now at peak acorn season, digging a billion little holes in the yard to bury the acorns, so I worry about their incessant diggings too.

Hoy wrote:

I got some nice (and rather expensive) Frits last week but something dug up and ate all the bulbs during the first night :'( I had planted the bulbs on the shed roof too to avoid slugs >:(

I think we have all had that experience at least once.  I had collected some wild seedlings of native sassafras from a northern outpost in Illinois one autumn.  The big, fat buds must have been very scrumptious...

Rick, had it only been once. . .
Mark, you said it! I believed some kind of rodent were to blame, but we have had an invasion of squirrels the last weeks ravaging the crop of hazelnuts. Certainly they like bulbs too :(