[pbs] Galanthus reginae-olgae, was New Jersey Weather
Jane McGary
janemcgary at earthlink.net
Mon Feb 2 13:46:13 EST 2009
To respond to Jim's inquiry about growing this plant, I keep it in
the bulb frame in a part that is sprinkled a little in summer but
definitely not very moist. It is in pots that are plunged. However,
another pot in a situation that is actually watered regularly in
summer (also plunged) has done well too. The main problem I have in
growing it is bulb fly; now I put Reemay over it in spring before the
flies emerge.
In nature it grows in mountain woodlands (and, I think, sometimes in
more open situations). I saw it in Greece in an oak forest in very
deep shade, growing among rocks.
There is a romantic aura, apparently, about this species, no doubt
stimulated by English gardening books, that makes many people want to
acquire it. I have to limit sales to one per customer, or some people
would try to buy a lot of this bulb and nothing else. I originally
acquired it from Potterton's in England around 1990. It increases
fairly well but doesn't seem to set viable seed, perhaps because I
have only one clone.
As for its hardiness, I couldn't vouch for it below about 20 F (minus 7 C).
I'd be curious to know what the plants at the Eastern WSW sold for,
since I'm donating a pot of bulbs to the Western WSW study weekend's
silent auction.
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA
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