Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Crocus => Topic started by: udo on August 03, 2007, 03:36:50 PM

Title: Crocus August 2007
Post by: udo on August 03, 2007, 03:36:50 PM
The first flower this season,
Crocus scharojanii ssp.scharojanii
from Caucasus.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Thomas Huber on August 03, 2007, 03:41:40 PM
Congratulations, Dirk!
wonderful plant!
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Maggi Young on August 03, 2007, 03:43:12 PM
Happy new Crocus season, Dirk! ;D
 A really good plant to start the season with, I think!!
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 04, 2007, 11:52:54 PM
How super! A lovely deep gold version of C. vallicola!
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Maggi Young on August 11, 2007, 03:11:55 PM
see this page ( no. 5 of Flowering Now, Southern Hemisphere)  reply 64, 11th August 2007, from Paul Tyerman, re CROCUS  coming into flower, August 2007:
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=661.new#new
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: I.S. on August 11, 2007, 10:41:02 PM
  Hi Maggi! Thanks for line.
 
  Lesley, for your glamorous C. biflorus alexandrii I also agree with Thomas. C. biflorus pulchricolor has yellow throat and 4 or 5 short thiny leaves which yours hasn't. But shot is wonderful as if there is a bulb inside.
  Tyerman, I think the first olivieri is C. olivieri balansae and second is C. olivieri olivieri.

  ibrahim SÖZEN
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Paul T on August 12, 2007, 02:49:59 AM
Ibrahim,

You're spot on.  I mixed up the two pics.  I've shifted them around and made a note as to the change.  Thanks for spotting the mistake.  Also thanks for confirming that they are apparently the right species, which is always nice to know.  ;D

Thanks again!! (You too Maggi for making the link)
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 15, 2007, 11:56:46 PM
I have two Crocus above ground today. Not just one off in a pot but them all. It's very strange. They are C. cancellatus, petal tips and anthers showing, and C. robertianus. Both flowered in early October last year.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Maggi Young on August 17, 2007, 12:01:10 PM
First crocus flowers out here in Aberdeen are a Crocus scharojanii flavus  and a Crocus media.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Thomas Huber on August 17, 2007, 12:37:41 PM
Maggi, what is a crocus media ???
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Maggi Young on August 17, 2007, 01:10:47 PM
You may well ask, Thomas, sorry, I meant to write Crocus medius!
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 17, 2007, 04:46:36 PM
It could be a new species named in honour of Ian & Maggi's local newspaper the Aberdeen Evening Express
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 21, 2007, 08:23:01 PM
Here's my C. cancellatus mazziaricus
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: David Nicholson on August 21, 2007, 08:48:10 PM
How do you get them so early, two weeks to go yet for the September storm??
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 21, 2007, 10:39:03 PM
pass.

In the garden the Colchicums are springing up fast. I know I should mention them else where but flowering now are tenorii, cupani, autumnale, autumnale 'Alba Plena', autumnale 'Alba', agripinum - Sept 22nd in 2006, hyrid ex IY, 'Harlikijn', asturiense, giganteum and a speciousus cultivar
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Maggi Young on August 22, 2007, 08:37:52 PM
All way ahead of us here in Aberdeen, Mark.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 22, 2007, 08:51:36 PM
The two Crocus are the only two so far
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Rogan on August 24, 2007, 11:59:12 AM
Perhaps someone would be able to point out some Crocus spp to me that may do well in my climate (or might be worth trying!) - hot and humid summers (when they should be dormant?) and dry mild winters where the temperature seldom falls much below 0 deg Centigrade (freezing) for any length of time. Because of my summer rainfall I would tend to grow them in pots.

Thanks a lot!  :)
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 24, 2007, 12:42:41 PM
I would guess those in Australia and NZ might have the answer.

Rod and Rachel Saunders are in Ireland next month for 3 lectures. They might come north for an extra one 'SA Iridaceae'
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Paul T on August 24, 2007, 01:58:00 PM
Rogan,

I can't unfortunately help.  I'm a wetter winter, dry hot summer type climate with minimums in winter down to -8'C.  Most Crocus do well for me here.   I'd imagine that the species that require all-year watering might suit your climate (Crocus cvijicii for example, but I know others have mentioned further species) but I don't know their minimum termperature requirements.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Thomas Huber on August 24, 2007, 02:59:52 PM
Hi Rogan!

My guess is, that all the autumn flowering crocus flowering with leaves should do
well in South Africa. These are for example: goulimyi, niveus, ochroleucus, cancellatus,
hadriaticus, boryi, laevigatus, tournefortii, sativus to name only the ones that are easy
to obtain.

Always worth a try are the without-leaves flowerer: speciosus, kotschyanus and pulchellus
which are (in Germany) the cheapest of all!

Spring flowering species you could try are: All the chrysanthus/biflorus cultivars available
in trade (Cream Beauty, Ard Schenk, Miss Vain, Goldilocks..... and many more), + sieberi-,
tommasinianus- and etruscus cultivars.

I can generally not recommend all the species that come from high mountain areas like
vernus ssp albiflorus, abantensis, biflorus ssp pulchricolor, aerius, scardicus, pelistericus,
veluchensis and (sorry Paul) cvijicii from the spring species and banaticus, nudiflorus,
vallicola and scharojanii from the autumn-fraction. These prefer cool conditions and
moisture during summer and will surely not survive in your garden!

Hope this helps - don't hesitate to ask if you have special questions!
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: ashley on August 24, 2007, 03:55:27 PM
I understand (and unfortunately recently experienced) that C. medius from commercial sources is often virus-infected.  Why this species in particular, or is it simply that in this case the infection doesn't reduce vegetative vigour and hence ease of propagation?  Would growing from seed avoid the problem?

Mark, where/when are the Saunders' Irish lectures to take place?
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 24, 2007, 04:10:24 PM
Mid September, Ashley. They will be in Cork, Dublin and somewhere I cant remember

Crocus medius ex Oliver Wyatt isnt virused. I meant to buy more at the recent bulb sale but forgot
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Thomas Huber on August 24, 2007, 04:20:04 PM
Hi Ashley!

You're right - nearly all the trade forms of Crocus medius from Holland are virused.
This virused plants still increase very well, but only by corm dividing NOT by seed.
I've never had any seed set on my plants  :-\

The trade form called "Millesimo" seems to be virus free. Also the plants bought
ten or more years ago in the gardens of some SRGC members don't carry any
virus. Last year I found one good plant in my stock and separated it for "healthy"
increasing, but this will surely need some more years to get reasonable numbers.

From time to time I found some other virused species, but only occaisonally. The
only other plant always carrying a virus is chrysanthus "Ladykiller".
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: ashley on August 24, 2007, 08:05:05 PM
Very interesting Thomas.  So is the risk of virus transfer to healthy stock low, that you continue to grow these forms?

Thanks very much Mark; I'll look out for the Cork event.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 24, 2007, 10:29:35 PM
The AGS Dublin Group web site now has their winter programme online. From it
Thursday 20th September, 8.00pm National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin.
Rod Saunders - 'Cape Bulbs'


They must be in Cork around this time
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Thomas Huber on August 26, 2007, 08:58:29 PM
Ashley, I would not dare to say the risk is low!!
In fact: I don't know. For that reason I've removed
all the virused medius from my garden this year.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: fermi de Sousa on August 27, 2007, 02:32:46 AM
Hi Rogan
The crocus that does well in Melbourne, (which sounds a similar climate to yours) is C. serotinus ssp salzmannii.
You could always try the South African crocus "mimic" Syringodea, but I don't know where you'd find them! If you find a source of seed please let me know!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: ashley on August 27, 2007, 09:18:00 AM
Hi Fermi,

B&T World Seeds list Syringodea longituba (#83359).
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 27, 2007, 10:47:59 PM
Who are B & T World seeds and is there an address or email address for them please?
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Maggi Young on August 27, 2007, 10:53:06 PM
http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/letters.htm         for the English language pages

B & T World Seeds
Route des Marchandes, Paguignan, 34210 Aigues-Vives, France
fax ++ 33 (0) 4 68 91 30 39 phone ++ 33 (0) 4 68 91 29 63
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 27, 2007, 11:25:26 PM
Thanks Maggi, though on a first, quick look, I won't be going there. Too much like a wholesale catalogue and prehaps things one wants are only occasionally available. No matter.
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: fermi de Sousa on August 28, 2007, 12:31:01 AM
Thanks, Ashley,
I just looked at their site (http://www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/carth.asp?species=Syringodea%20longituba&sref=83359) and at 11Euro a packet plus 3Euro P&P (and a minimum order of 22Euro) I guess I'll keep waiting!
cheers
fermi
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: ashley on August 28, 2007, 12:09:15 PM
Fermi, Rogan,

Steep all right.  Although not listed in their online catalogue, it might be worth checking with Silverhill Seeds too because they have limited stocks of extras from time to time. 
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 29, 2007, 02:25:26 PM
Another Crocus is flowering today. Labelled as C. serotinus salzmanii I think I have mixed up laels when I accidentally removed some while weeding out grass and other weeds. I'll post a photo when I get home from work
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 30, 2007, 06:36:52 PM
no photo because I had to clear the room for new carpet. So much junk accumulated! Hopefully show it later. Still at work  :-[
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: mark smyth on August 30, 2007, 11:12:29 PM
I do believe this is a stray Crocus
Title: Re: Crocus August 2007
Post by: Thomas Huber on August 31, 2007, 07:59:32 AM
Looks like Crocus speciosus, Mark!

Many salzmanii stocks in Holland are mixed
with speciosus!
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