Sternbergia 2013

[arilnut]

I would say pretty hardy.  No snow cover at all.  Here is a pic of my place, the S. candida
is behind the old boiler tub behind the street sign.  Not much protection.

John B

[Gerry Webster]

Sternbergia candida

This year the  flowers are somewhat smaller than usual.

[Maggi Young]

Sternbergia candida

This year the  flowers are somewhat smaller than usual.

Still a very good clump though, Gerry!

[Gerry Webster]

Thanks Maggi. "Can do better" as my old Latin master used to say.

[krisderaeymaeker]

Stil great to see Gerry .
And now .....Sternbergia for beginners ....
 After the magnificent clumps..... I show you the first time flowering here of Sternbergia vernalis ....

[Angelo Porcelli]

nice to see them flowering in your countries. BTW, mine are still in flower ! 

[Maggi Young]

BTW, mine are still in flower ! 

Still??!! Wow! 

[pehe]

Sternbergia candida

This year the  flowers are somewhat smaller than usual.

But a little smaller than usual is still much better than no flowers!
Mine grow and increase well but I'm afraid there will be no flowers this year (as usual, I'm tempted to say). As a consequence of that, I have split them up last summer. Some were planted in the best spot in my garden, some I have in a 11 cm Long Tom pot and some in a standard 9 cm pot. All will be heavily feed this year. Hopefully that will result in some flowers next year.

Poul

[Angelo Porcelli]

Yes Maggi, they put new buds over the weeks, some flowers a bit spoiled by the rains.
About the size of the flowers, years ago when I got the first flowering of these species I was quite disappointed, they were rather small compared with my large-flowered clones of lutea. So, if it wasn't for the winter time of flowering, I would have not given them much consideration indeed. After a couple of season the flowers became significatively larger, reaching the full potential of the species, till to turn to be one of the 'superstar' plants of January. Probably the bulbs need to size up well before to get the maximum result, it's rather odd that all species resent to be moved in spite to don't have perennial roots.
I have checked the biggest bulbs of fischeriana can produce 4 flowers, on candida 3, I got 6 on lutea but it was a double-nose bulb, while I have yet to see the top limit of clusiana.

A question, have you checked if S. candida is scented? It is said to be freesia scented, but mine are not scented at all. The gray fischeriana instead is lightly lemon scented.

[Gerry Webster]

........A question, have you checked if S. candida is scented? It is said to be freesia scented, but mine are not scented at all. The gray fischeriana instead is lightly lemon scented.

Angelo - I can't detect any scent at all but my nose is not the most sensitive.

[pehe]

And now .....Sternbergia for beginners ....

But what a beginner!
I think you are very skilled. S. Vernalis is not easy to flower indeed.
Lovely show so far north!

Poul

[pehe]

I have three forms of Sternbergia colchiciflora. Their flowers are quite similar but their leaves are different. Two of them have rather broad leaves and the other relatively narrow leaves which have a bluish tint.
The two of them are shown in the pic below. The broad-leaved at the left is from Ziyaret pass, Turkey and the narrow-leaved is grown from seeds collected somewhere in Turkey. Unfortunately I do not know where in Turkey. Can anybody help with a location?

Poul

[anita]

Sternbergia kick off in the Southern Hemisphere.
These bulbs are growing outside. As we live in a seriously hot Mediterranean climate they don't seem to mind being in a bed that is watered occasionally.
Anita

[fermi de Sousa]

Sternbergia sicula is in full bloom in our garden - all came originally from seed from Rannweig Wallis in Wales - having been collected in Crete I believe.
cheers
fermi

[fermi de Sousa]

Sternbergia lutea is also in bloom
cheers
fermi