[pbs] Narcissus in zone 9a/9b
Joe Shaw
jshaw at opuntiads.com
Sat Sep 2 12:32:41 EDT 2006
Hi Gang,
A while back I wrote about Narcissus x 'Falconet', and I was pleased it was
doing well here in zone 9a. In the past 3 years we've only had a few nights
below 25 F so I guess we've been zone 9a/9b. 'Falconet' is still putting on
a good show in early March.
David K. wrote a wonderful note about other tazetta-type Narcissus hybrids.
I haven't tried them but they are still on my list of plants to try someday.
Recently, Bill the Bulb Barron sent me a generous portion of 'Golden Dawn',
another hybrid with a genealogy similar to that of 'Falconet'. I hope
'Golden Dawn' is tolerant of conditions here.
One interesting thing is that 'Falconet' has a reputation for increasing
rapidly, almost annoyingly so. For me, it has stayed steady and has not
increased much. Perhaps zone 9a/9b influences increase. Perhaps lack of
increase is due to the need for mowing, even in winter. I try to protect
the foliage as long as possible but the winter grasses start to make
miniature hayfields and eventually I have to mow the whole lawn-bulb foliage
and all.
'Hilstar' and 'Geranium' have not done well, they both seem to be
disappearing.
I am going to try more Narcissus types and would enjoy suggestions from
others in warm-winter climates. 'February Gold' has done OK-I think it is
holding in there and blooms a litter earlier than 'Falconet'. But,
'February Gold' only puts on a modest show if there are a few warm days in a
row, a little mid-winter hot spell and the blooms just fry.
LINK: PBS Archives Note from David K. (great reading)
http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/pbs/2005-April/020956.html
LINK: Bill the Bulb Barron of Carmel Valley
http://www.billthebulbbaron.com/
Cordially,
Joe
Still potting up Crinum seedlings from too-small containers into bigger but
not-big-enough containers. They sure like a lot of root space.
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