Sternbergia 2013

[Angelo Porcelli]

As antipicated, the New Year starts with some nice plants here, the last two Sternbergia species.
Sternbergia candida, hasn't reach its peak yet, I find this species very slow to increase.
Now I would like to start a discussion about S. fischeriana, now renamed S. vernalis.
I have two forms of this species, one with dull green leaves, which I see is the oone most of you show in photos and another with gray leaves. The gray form is undoubtely a great performer, at least in my climate, this year I think I have got the maximum result, yesterday I counted 46 open flowers and there are a lot of small buds. This form flower well above the leaves, which are rather short at this time, but they grow long later resembling truly a Narcissus . The green one instead has short stemmed flowers which are the same height of the leaves, so flowering is less showy, not only this but the size of the flowers are about half those of the gray form. Of course that clump of gray form is 10 years old, the green ones are much younger, but even when single head bulbs the gray form has been always better.

[Angelo Porcelli]

Another interesting feature I have noticed is the difference in setting fruits of the two forms. The gray one bears the pod in axis with the peduncle, laying it on the ground as usual, but the green one instead developes the pod at almost right angle to the peduncle, looking like a Galanthus and it lay to the ground that way.

[Hans A.]

Fantastic show Angelo!
Here a picture of my green S. fischeriana - the greyish plant in front was given to me also as S. fischeriana - but as it flowers in November without leaves and it looks very much like S.clusiana I think it is not.

[Gert Hoek]

As antipicated, the New Year starts with some nice plants here, the last two Sternbergia species.
Sternbergia candida, hasn't reach its peak yet, I find this species very slow to increase.
Now I would like to start a discussion about S. fischeriana, now renamed S. vernalis.
I have two forms of this species, one with dull green leaves, which I see is the oone most of you show in photos and another with gray leaves. The gray form is undoubtely a great performer, at least in my climate, this year I think I have got the maximum result, yesterday I counted 46 open flowers and there are a lot of small buds. This form flower well above the leaves, which are rather short at this time, but they grow long later resembling truly a Narcissus . The green one instead has short stemmed flowers which are the same height of the leaves, so flowering is less showy, not only this but the size of the flowers are about half those of the gray form. Of course that clump of gray form is 10 years old, the green ones are much younger, but even when single head bulbs the gray form has been always better.

What a wonderfull Sternbergia show

[arilnut]

Here S. candida blooming, 2 weeks ahead of last year.

John B

[pehe]

Angelo,
Very impressive show!
The grey S. vernalis is very interesting. If you have some spare bulbs when you replant I will be very interested in buying/swapping a bulb.

Poul

[bulborum]

S. vernalis
Typo PeHe ??

R

[Maggi Young]

S. vernalis
Typo PeHe ??
R

http://citesbulbs.myspecies.info/category/sternbergia/sternbergia-vernalis

[bulborum]

Thanks Maggie
learning every day 

Roland

[Maggi Young]

Ah, Roland, my problem is though I learn every day, I then  forget every other day! 

[bulborum]

Same problem here
luckily there are computer to store all that info
and Fora to search
How did they do that 30 years ago 

Roland

[David Nicholson]

Same problem here
luckily there are computer to store all that info
and Fora to search
How did they do that 30 years ago 

Roland

Moi aussi. Shoeboxes and post cards-couldn't find a thing then, can't find a thing now

[Matt]

Here S. candida blooming, 2 weeks ahead of last year.

John B

Hi John,

do you grow S. candida outside in Kansas? Or is it in a greenhouse?

Matt

[arilnut]

Hi Matt. It is out in the ground. Poked up in early December and we have been down
in the lows teen's F a few times since and 20"s quite a bit.  But up in the 50"s F at least
once every week.

John B

[Matt]

Hi John,

Thank you for the reply.
I wasn't imagining S. candida to be as hardy. Few times at -10C and several times at -5C would easily kill any tender-ish bulb (or at least freeze the flowers!).