Leucocoryne alliacea

[Rogan]

By gosh Leucocoryne alliacea can grow quickly! Last year I germinated just a few from (rather large) seed - quite poor germination really, this year the seedlings have come up again looking just about ready to flower! Does anybody have experience growing this plant at all? I hope it doesn't become a pest of the order of Nothoscordum!    

[Lesley Cox]

I can't imagine a Leucocoryne being a pest but if kept in a pot for a year or two you should get an idea of its rate of increase.

[Diane Whitehead]

Well Rogan, what has happened to it in the past year?

L. alliacea is one that I want to grow as it is very hardy,
and I want to cross it with the more glamourous tender
species to get hybrids I'll be able to grow in the garden.

However, seed is always "temporarily out of stock" at
Chileflora, so I haven't managed to get started on this
project.

[Ezeiza]

Rogan, this is very unusual. And in your warm climate. Leucocorynes are not easy the first years until the bulbs get a bit fatter.

[Rogan]

My L. alliacea have continued to do well Diane, and many more seeds germinated the second year from sowing; but no flowers yet so I don't even know if they are L. alliaceae at this stage!

I wholeheartedly agree with your comments Alberto, but they are such beautiful plants that every effort is amply rewarded when they eventually decide to flower; thus far I have managed to flower LL. coquimbensis, vittata and ixioides from seed. I now eagerly await the rest...

[Rogan]

Yesterday I noticed the first signs of an inflorescence developing on my largest plant - it will be good to see it in flower; I will post it here when it does.

[Diane Whitehead]

Did it flower, Rogan?

I still have not managed to get any seeds.  ChileFlora continues not to have any.

[Ezeiza]

It is the Leucocoryne with the southernmost (colder) distribution and it is possible it could be grown in Britin with some protection outdoors. No risk of people fainting at its sight but no doubt something most interesting.