Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Bulbs => Bulbs General => Topic started by: ArnoldT on April 20, 2014, 11:30:16 PM

Title: Unknown
Post by: ArnoldT on April 20, 2014, 11:30:16 PM
This appeared in a pot full of Gladiolus angustus, which it is not.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Two flower scapes per bulb and nicely scented. Scape around ten inches tall.

Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: PeterT on April 20, 2014, 11:43:26 PM
Nothoscordum?.... burn it Arnold, if it is the one I think it is, because I believe that you have too many good plants which it may invade
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: ArnoldT on April 21, 2014, 12:34:45 AM
EEK.

Where did it come from.  Did some jealous person sneak it into a rare seed collection to "get me".

It smells so pleasant.

Thanks, Peter.
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: PeterT on April 21, 2014, 07:36:35 AM
it is very nice..... and gets around! just like Dandelions and Celandines, -bulbils, seeds and deep growing
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: Steve Garvie on April 21, 2014, 08:36:45 AM
It is a pernicious weed under glass -especially in sand plunge beds where it seems to be able to grow up through the drainage holes of pots.

Ruthlessly weed it out or you will find it replacing your choice Lachenalias and Gladioli!
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: ChrisB on April 21, 2014, 09:19:50 AM
I'd certainly agree with these comments.  Florists use it in arrangements but in my garden it just won't go away.  Tried everything...
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: Palustris on April 21, 2014, 10:28:31 AM
And resistant to Roundup too!
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: PeterT on April 21, 2014, 07:14:17 PM
apply weak early morning and again in the evening using finger and thumb with exam gloves
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: Lesley Cox on April 21, 2014, 11:35:45 PM
Years ago my mother was required by local Ministry of Ag and Fish (as it was then) to excavate more than a cubic metre of soil from her garden because a few bulbils were identified in the area. They didn't help her do it but did come and supervise to make sure it was done! The bulbs can go very deep as well as far and wide. :o
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: Geoforce on June 05, 2014, 12:21:06 AM
Very interesting that this is an aggressive invasive for many.  Over here, it is a common roadside plant in many areas.  On the North Carolina 'Outer Banks' where I have a vacation house, it is common in all sandy soils and I also have seen it in Oklahoma and Texas areas where I grew up, but here in Pennsylvania, it is persistent, but not invasive nor aggressive.  Cute little flower of no specific consequence.

Our NASTY is Ornithigallum umbellatum (Star of Bethlehem)  hard to kill, grows like a weed, seeds everywhere.

Different strokes I guess.

Geo
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: ChrisB on June 05, 2014, 08:54:29 AM
Both pose serious problems for me Geo, I've got the incredibly sandy soil most bulbs lust after....
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: Maggi Young on June 05, 2014, 09:18:56 AM
Welcome Geo - isn't it fascinating how we all have different "nasties" ? I think here we'd have to cite assorted Oxalis  :-X


Arnold : I tend to think of the most troublesome offenders in the Nothoscordum family as having  dark stripes on the white  outers - yours have green stripes - looks a bit like Mary Sue's " N. sp." on this PBS page : http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Nothoscordum (http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Nothoscordum) - so I'm wondering if it might really be such a thug?
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: art600 on June 05, 2014, 09:38:48 AM
Arnold

Be very careful when digging out the bulb.  You need to go wide and deep as the bulb resembles a 'pineapple' with many many offsets - all of which will form plants.  Do NOT let it seed.

I thought I had eleiminated it from my garden several years ago, but have found 3 plants so far this year.

Maggi

I looked at the website but could not find a 'blue' version of Nothoscordum.  I have a plant that is identical to the thug, but blue.  Reluctant to get rid of it if it is not a thug.  Any thoughts on what it might be.
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: Maggi Young on June 05, 2014, 10:00:39 AM
I think we'll need a photo, Art - how blue is blue, for instance?   Could be a Brodiaea  ....... :-\
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: art600 on June 06, 2014, 07:36:17 PM
Difficult to get the true colour that is several shades darker.

Plant is approx. 18 inches tall and looks identical to the 'thug' apart from colour.

PS  Found another 'thug' in my front garden -
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: Jon Evans on June 06, 2014, 09:09:42 PM
Hi Arthur
Looks like Dichelostemma - possibly D. congestum or D. multiflorum, but I don't know the diagnostics between the species.
Have a look at the Pacific Bulb Society website http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Dichelostemma (http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Dichelostemma)

[Edited to fix the link].

Jon
Title: Re: Unknown
Post by: art600 on June 07, 2014, 10:19:30 AM
Jon

Many thanks

Good news is whichever one it is - it is not a thug :)

Should be able to confirm it is Dichelostemma when I am able to check whether corm or bulb
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