Re: Calochortus luteus

I would let it finish blooming and develop seed in the pot.  Then plant the
bulbs in the fall.  Divide the bulbs and pay attention for bulbils. The seed
should also be viable.  C. luteus seed I grow in a sandy loam raised bed, with
careful attention to eliminating weeds, snails, slugs, etc.  The first year all
you get is a very thin green shoot that turns brown and dries up after about
two weeks,  and a bulb the size of a grain of wheat.  Generally takes 3-4 years
before they start blooming.  I started from 6 C. luteus bulbs and have about a
hundred in bloom right now.  In Alameda, C. luteus does well in 3/4 sun, no
supplemental water, and general freedom from competition.

Nan Sterman wrote:

> Hi all!  I just bought a pot of blooming Calochortus luteus (mariposa lily)
> from a nearby nursery -- at least I THINK it's Calochortus luteus, it had
> no label, but from the photos I've seen on-line, I'm sure it is a
> Calochortus and luteus looks most like it.  Anyway, it is in bloom right
> now (and startingly beautiful I might add), and I wonder if I should plant
> it out now or wait until it goes dormant.  What do you all think?  And what
> kinds of culture conditions does it need?  Can i plant it and leave it to
> its own devices as I do my other native plants?
>
> Nan
> **********
> '''''''''''''''''''''''
> Nan Sterman
> San Diego County California
> Sunset zone 24, USDA hardiness zone 10b or 11

--
Tom Schweich   schweich@well.com
http://www.well.com/user/schweich/
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