[pbs] Lycoris in sun or shade
Tony Avent
tony at plantdelights.com
Mon Aug 28 12:27:37 EDT 2006
Jim:
So, which species have you found that don't like summer baking?
Tony Avent
Plant Delights Nursery @
Juniper Level Botanic Garden
9241 Sauls Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27603 USA
Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F
Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F
USDA Hardiness Zone 7b
email tony at plantdelights.com
website http://www.plantdelights.com
phone 919 772-4794
fax 919 772-4752
"I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent
James Waddick wrote:
> Dear All;
> A number of topics have been brought up here that I think I
> can address at least in part.
>
> Sun or Shade - I have seen a few species in bloom in the
> wild in a few locations and many in bloom in cultivation.
> Most species are found only in shade, but your definition of
> shade 'depends' . They are common in woodland edges where they may
> get a brief exposure to full sun, others are in open deciduous
> woodlands. In both cases their foliage would be in more sun when the
> foliage is active and their bloom in shade due to their growth cycle.
> I grow most of mine in some shade.
> Some Lycoris tolerate a LOT of sun, but it is climate
> dependant. Remember foliage is ONLY present in times of the year when
> sun is at 'low power' fall, early spring or winter.
>
> Bulbs DO NOT want summer baking, but some can tolerate it to
> some degree.
>
> and incidentally. Every species I have seen growing wild in China has
> been in a very mild climate. The bulbs were essentially at the
> surface in very damp sites. Year round wet sites. Even in cold
> climate the bulbs grow very shallowly. They benefit from year round
> watering.
>
>
> Sterile/Fertile the two most common Lycoris L. squamigera and
> L. radiata are represented in cultivation by sterile triploid forms.
> They (rarely) never produce viable seeds . These are very vigorous
> and tolerate a wide variety of climates.
> Here in the midwest masses of L. squamigera are common. In milder
> climates L. radiata (ssp radiata) are even more common and often
> considered agricultural weeds. They clog rice terraces in places and
> I have seen heaps of small bulbs tossed aside in weeding.
>
> Other species are very fertile and produce voluminous seed-
> L. longituba, L. chinensis., L. sprengeri. Seeds are large, rounded
> like small peas. Seeds germinate well, but are slow to reach blooming
> size. They are also very interfertile and form hybrid swarms from
> yellow to white, orange pink and peach shades. It makes ID very
> confusing. I have self sown seedlings in the garden from various
> species.
>
> Price I never understand this, but they all seem to be
> coming more and more specialty bulbs. They do have an odd life cycle
> which means the best time to divide, move, replant is from June to
> August with little root drying in the process. Bulbs submitted to
> Dutch regimes of summer digging, drying and holding until Oct sales
> are severely stressed and often are extremely slow to recover and
> resume bloom. Although the genus contains at least 25 species and
> numerous ssp and countless hybrids, few are common in commerce.
> Misidentification is extremely common. The best deal is to buy them
> direct from a specialty grower who knows how to handle them or potted
> for minimal disturbance.
>
> US versus UK Most Chinese Lycoris (most Lycoris) come from
> the continental climates of E and Central China. They do best in
> continental climates of E and Central US. The UK has a far more
> moderate climate without either summer or winter extremes. I'd think
> some of the Japanese species would do well there.
> Some species are quite hardy easily growing unprotected in
> parts of Zone 4 in the US.
>
> Critique L. squamigera is a near perfect
> garden subject for the midwest (at least). Totally hardy in Zone 5,
> with essentially no pests or diseases and blooms heavily in a time
> when few other plants are in flower. With a collection of various
> species and hybrids, bloom season can extend for 6 or more weeks. If
> it has any faults it is the voluminous foliage in spring, but that
> soon disappears and can be over planted with a variety of other
> summer growing plants.
>
> Drop me a private email and I'll send you a few pix of
> recently blooming species and hybrids. jwaddick at kc.rr.com.
>
> Best Jim W.
>
>
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