Re: Naked Ladies! (Amaryllis belladonna)

Richard Starkeson wrote:
> 
> Nan Sterman wrote:
> 
> > >  Last year, despite a
> > >full flush of foliage earlier in the year, his naked ladies didn't bloom.
> > Any ideas why? I don't think he's transplanted them (I've heard
> > >they like to be crowded).
> >
> > That would be my guess.  They really do like to be crowded and terribly
> > uncomfortable.  If I recall correctly, it took mine a year
> > or two to start blooming.
> >
> 
> These have naturalized all over northern California.  (They don't seem to have
> spread a lot, but spread out gradually from where they had originally benn
> planted)  I have noticed that when left on their own, they sometimes form large
> clumps of bulbs, all above the ground surface.  Is this their natural manner of
> growth in their native climate?

Richard
I haven't actually lived where they are native, but all good flowering
clumps I have ever seen have been growing as you describe. Quite a
number of other South African bulbs (nerines for instance) seem to like
to grow with their bulbs exposed and in great clumps and only flower
well when they have reached this stage. I presume the exposed bulbs
allow for sun baking while dormant. Certainly the plants do not flower
well if in more than the lightest shade and possibly need a certain
annual quantum of light and/or heat to stimulate flower bud formation..

Moira
-- 
Tony & Moira Ryan <theryans@xtra.co.nz>
Wainuiomata, New Zealand, SW Pacific. 12 hours ahead of Greenwich Time
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