OT: Cardiocrinum
- To: Multiple recipients of list <i*@rt66.com>
- Subject: OT: Cardiocrinum
- From: L* P* <p*@peak.org>
- Date: Fri, 29 Aug 1997 22:36:35 -0600 (MDT)
On Fri, 29 Aug 1997 13:19:44 -0500 Bill Shear <bills@tiger.hsc.edu> wrote:
>Does anyone on the list have any experience with Cardiocrinum giganteum in
>the mid-Atlantic area? After three expensive failures, I think I need
>advice.
Bill Shear
Department of Biology
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney VA 23943
(804)223-6172
FAX (804)223-6374
email<bills@tiger.hsc.edu>
Hi, Bill, Hi Iris Fans All!
Cardiocrinum giganteum take from seven to nine years to bloom from seed,
then they are monocarpic, which means that they die after blooming.
Several years before blooming, they should have produced offset bulbs
though, which will mature and bloom in about four years. They also set
profuse seed before they die. They have deep brittle roots and are
difficult to transplant. The best success comes from patient direct-sowing
of seed and this is the least expensive way to grow them. If you
direct-sow seed, mark the spot carefully! For the first couple of years,
the seedlings are quite small, then gradually grow to small rosettes of
leaves. Being subalpine, they require a cool, fairly rich well-drained
soil. They are especially prone to rot in warm moist conditions. In the
US, the Pacific Northwest is where they thrive, but should grow well in
Virginia if you can shade them partially in the summer and protect them
from excess warm rain. When blooming, they are as much as ten feet tall
and the fragrance is heavy. Some people are especially allergic to the
pollen, which is very pervasive. The seed pods are handsome and will last
into winter when the plant that produced them has given its all. The seeds
will keep for many years and germinate very well. Protect the young
rosettes and emerging stems from snails and slugs. Actually these giant
Himalayan "lilies" do well under the same conditions that favor my Pacifica
iris, so many of which are also upland or subalpine species: cool soil,
good drainage, sun in spring, and some shade in summer. There...I had to
work those iris in somewhere ::wink::
Cheers, Louise
Louise Parsons, <parsont@peak.org>
Co-Listowner, Alpine-L <Alpine-L-Request@Hearn.nic.surfnet.NL>
Emerald Chapter NARGS (Editor, "Emerald Chapter News")
1915 SE Stone Street
Corvallis, OR 97333-1832
(541) 758-1340
fax: (541) 752-7515
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming
gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
