Calochortus maweanus / tolmiei

[indigo]

Does anyone know if this will grow in Scotland?

If so, next question is where do I get it?  and what am I looking for?  Bulb? seed?

Many thanks  

[Maggi Young]

Calochortus maweanus is a synonym of Calochortus tolmei, I believe.

C. tolmei is a variable plant, growing over a pretty wide range in nature and so not always the easiest to please in cultivation.
In the UK generally I would regard it as an Alpine House plant. Certainly in Scotland!

Seed would be the best way, though some may know of bulb stockists...... I'd be inclined to try Ron Ratko seedlist.... I'll look it out and send it  to you.

[Ed Alverson]

Ron Ratko's most recent seed list does have two accessions of Calochortus tolmiei, collected in southern Oregon in 2007.  Some species, including at least some populations of C. tolmiei, also produce little bulblets in the leaf axils, which can be used for propagation.

I would think that this species would have a better chance of growing in the open garden in Great Britain and northern Europe because the climate in its native range (at least, the northern part), is fairly similar, with mild rainy winters.  However, it is a widespread and variable species, and some accessions, especially those from California, may need drier summers and milder winters.  Just to whet your appetite, here are a couple of photos of a wild population in a meadow near Corvallis, Oregon, taken in late May, as I recall.

Ed

[Lesley Cox]

These are very lovely Ed. In my opinion there is no finer sight for plant lovers than a mass of any species growing in its natural habitat, whether it is Calochortus, Crocus, Narcissus, Meconopsis, Celmisia or any other.

[indigo]

Ed - apologies, I've only just seen your response!  You really did it, didn't you with those pictures    Now I HAVE to have them    Great that they're likely to grown in this climate, now all I need is the seed - do you have contact details for Ron Ratko please?

Thank you so much for the pictures    I had only seen close ups of the flowers, but seeing them in their native habitat is as Lesley says, great.

[Maggi Young]

Indigo, I found a recent NorthAmericanRockGarden Society link which suggests that Ron Ratko prefers snail mail contact....."Ron Ratko Seeds by snail-mail only:
  Ron Ratko,
  Northwest Native Seed
  915 Davis Pl. S
  Seattle, WA 98144"

[indigo]

Thanks Maggi 

Does anyone know if we are allowed to have bulbs sent in to this country?

Is seed allowed? 

I remember that USA/UK was a bit iffy about it years ago.

[David Nicholson]

I've never had a problem ordering from Ron by Email.

This is from his 2009 List. "I accept orders by Email. Send it to oreonanaATzipcon.com (change AT to @) along with your method of payment. Do not include your credit card number."

[Lesley Cox]

I think just about anything can be sent to the UK except rabies and anthrax. Every time I go to my post office with a package with seeds in or small bulbs, they argue about it and I have to explain that it's only us (and Aussies and maybe Americans) who can't import such stuff. Anything in that line is OK to the UK and Europe.

[indigo]

Thanks David, I can at least email to find out if he has them and take it from there 

Lesley, thanks for the reassurance.  When I was moving back here from USA plants were among the forbidden items.  I know USA and Canada are freaky about what they allow in, thank gooness we're not 

[Lori S.]

Lesley, thanks for the reassurance.  When I was moving back here from USA plants were among the forbidden items.  I know USA and Canada are freaky about what they allow in, thank gooness we're not  

You are right about importation into the US of plant material being extremely regulated, but the same is not true for Canada.  (Yes, there are noxious weed lists, and restrictions relating to perceived possible dangers to agricultural crops, but it is absolutely nothing at all like the US.)