I shop regularly at a large Farmer's Market. One of my "regulars" has been
a little old man who sold eggs and potatoes and turnips, and a few other
vegetables in season. Spring through fall he would supplement these staples
with gorgeous bouquets--not the usual florist stuff, but cottage-type
flowers and unusual varieties all grown on his farm, arranged with a great
eye for color and design.
I learned today ill health has forced him into a retirement home, and
friends are running his stand temporarily. They are selling off some of his
flowering bulbs. I bought a big box of gladiolus and am pleased to have
them. I also bought two huge, healthy looking Peruvian daffodil bulbs (for
75cents each!).
I've looked them up--I think what I have is Hymencocallis narcissiflora
(Esmene calathina). I'm thinking of growing them as a pot plant. I'm
hoping someone with experience with them can give me a few
pointers--sun/shade, water requirements, storage tips, etc. Do they have
enough presence to grace a pot by themselves, or do you have a favorite
companion for them? Also, the bulbs each have several good sized
offsets--should I leave them attached, or can I pot them up separately? If
I separate them, do I need to include a piece of the big fleshy roots as
well?
Thanks for any help,
Sue (still rockin' and rollin')
ScarletSage@att.net
Zone 6, south-central PA
Bob was kind enough to reply:
> I had them planted for about 3 years before each plant put up a single
flower
> spike with about 5 flowers on each spike.
> They lasted for a long time as a cut flower inside. A spectacular flower
Thanks for this and the info on their sun and water requirements. I think,
based on this, I will not try to split up my large bulb and offsets, as it
sounds like they can take a while to grow to blooming size. I'm glad to
hear they are "spectacular"--my kind of flower!!
Sue
ScarletSage@att.net
Zone 6, south-central PA
ScarletSage wrote:
I find they are very water hungry !!, they are under planted a lime tree.
They are nearly as large as the lime, they have strappy leaves a little like
Clivia.
> Do they have
> enough presence to grace a pot by themselves, or do you have a favorite
> companion for them?
I had them planted for about 3 years before each plant put up a single flower
spike with about 5 flowers on each spike.
They lasted for a long time as a cut flower inside. A spectacular flower
