laxa (Anomatheca laxa; Lapeirousia laxa) ~ A colorful sprite that bears constellations of orchid-pink, purple-blotched, inch-wide star-flowers on 1-foot stems for several weeks in summer -- or whenever else its whimsical nature tells it to grow. It can be planted at monthly intervals to provide a summer-long succession of blooms (so order lots). Despite its hardiness zone rating, it will sometimes persist in colder gardens through self-sowing, or it can be wintered dry in pots. Subtropical/Mediterranean; S Africa. Zone 8.
GALTONIA (Hyacinthaceae)
Summer
hyacinth
candicans ~ We feel this is one of
the most underused and valuable of summer-blooming
bulbs, its fragrant, nodding, creamy-white bell-flowers
arising on lofty, 3- to 5-foot stems from summer
into fall, serving admirably as a postlude to earlier blooming
species or as a counterpoint to warm-season grasses and
annuals. Much hardier than usually given credit for, and
worth trying in zone 5 with a deep winter mulch. 16/18cm bulbs.
Subtropical/montane; S Africa. Zone 6.
HABRANTHUS (Amaryllidaceae)
brachyandrus ~ How fortunate that this beauty -- with orchid pink, burgundy-throated, 3.5-inch trumpets on 1-foot scapes in late summer -- is also among the hardiest of its kind. As with most Habranthus , it likes to be moist while in growth and nearly dry during its winter and spring dormant period, and makes a good pot plant. Subtropical; C S America. Zone 8. Flowering-size bulbs.
robustus ~ Purplish-pink-fading-to-blush-white, 2.5-inch trumpets on 8-12-inch scapes in July and August, attractively complemented by grassy, arching basal leaves. Justly popular. Subtropical; C S America. Zone 9. 6+cm bulbs.
'Mini-Cherry' ~ Because this is as new to us as it probably is to you, we can tell you nothing more than that it bears pink flowers on 6-inch stems. We look forward to making their acquaintance. Flowering-size bulbs.
Ginger lily
coccineum ~ A regal presence in the garden or in a container, its orange-red, fragrant, lepidopteran flowers precisely serried in 10-inch, vertical rows atop 5-foot, leafy stems from midsummer to fall. The projecting, upward-angled stamens add to the drama. It favors fertile, moist soil and a not too hot exposure. A plush winter mulch will significantly boost its hardiness. Winter-dormant. Subtropical/montane; Himalayan foothills. Zone 8.
coccineum 'Aurantiacum' ~ This splendid form features soft orange, fragrant, lepidopteran flowers and somewhat narrower leaves than the type. Winter-dormant. Subtropical/montane; Himalayan foothills. Zone 8.
coronarium ~ Blessed with one of the most heavenly scents in the plant kingdom, the large, white, yellow-centered blooms of the garland flower perch like butterflies atop 6-foot stems through much of summer. It prefers some shade. Winter-dormant. Subtropical/tropical; India to Indonesia. Zone 8.
ellipticum ~ Dense, bristling, shaving-brush heads of fragrant white flowers perch atop the broad-leaved, 4- to 6- foot stems of this relatively unknown but highly meritorious Himalayan native. Partial shade preferred. Winter-dormant. Subtropical/montane; C Nepal to Bhutan. Zone 7/8.
flavum ~ Another relatively unknown but highly desirable ginger lily, bearing yellow, orange-splotched blooms in crowded, 6-inch spikes on 3- to 5-foot stems in mid- to late summer. Partial shade preferred. Winter-dormant. Subtropical/montane; N India. Zone 8.
gardnerianum ~ In both form and fragrance giving somewhat the impression of a sulphur-yellow H . coccineum , the Kahlili ginger produces its 8- to 16-inch flower-spikes on 6-foot stems from mid- to late summer. It needs a cool position. Winter-dormant. Subtropical/montane; N India. Zone 8.
thyrsiforme ~ With its Medusean heads of long-stamened white flowers (on 6-foot stems) and its broad, glossy, wavy leaves, this is a Hedychium on the cutting edge. Even the fall bloom time is unconventional. The flowers are mildly fragrant. Winter-dormant. Subtropical/montane; N India to Bhutan. Zone 9.
HELIANTHUS (Asteraceae)
tuberosus Early-blooming form ~ Unlike the commonly available form of Jerusalem artichoke, which flowers so late that it sometimes doesn't flower at all, this clone produces its 4-inch wide "sunflowers" from late summer onward on 7- to 9-foot stems. Its edible tubers are both invasive and tenacious, so site carefully (it does well in a container). Modified continental; E N America. Zone 3.
HELICODICEROS (Dracunculus) (Araceae)
Dragon Arum
muscivorus ~ Another of those utterly cool keep-it-downwind Little Shop of Horrors aroids, its nodding, purple-mottled spathe and black-purple wooly-bear-caterpillar spadix assaulting the spring garden with a carrion-like stench, in hopes of enticing neighborhood blowflies. Thankfully, the floral display is preceded and long outlasted by the intriguing, foot-wide, claw-shaped leaves. A dry summer dormancy is required. W Mediterranean islands. Zone 9.
HIPPEASTRUM (Amaryllidaceae)
Amaryllis
aulicum ~ One of the most easily cultivated and hauntingly beautiful of the "species amaryllis", lily of the palace raises its dusky crimson, green-throated trumpet-flowers on 18- to 24-inch scapes in winter or early spring, accompanied by bright-green, strappy basal leaves. Rarely offered. Tropical/subtropical; Brazil & Paraguay. Zone 10.
'San Antonio Rose' ~ A breakthrough, this hardy, vigorous, virus-resistant hybrid "amaryllis" (involving H . aulicum and H. traubii) bears clusters of hot-pink, citron-blazed, white-eyed flowers in early summer, making it a leading candidate for gardens throughout the South (as well as for container-growing in colder climes). It offsets freely to form healthy clumps. Zone 7/8.
HYMENOCALLIS (Amaryllidaceae)
Spider lily
durangensis ~ Rare but easy in cultivation (either in a pot or in the ground) if given enough summer water, this Mexican highlander offers an abundance of the usual white, fragrant, starburst flowers in outfacing umbels in early summer, attended by erect, strappy, twisted basal leaves. Subtropical; SW Mexico. Zone 8.
maximiliani ~ A gracile, elegant species, with narrow, almost filamentous, backswept "petals" and delicate "cups" (all in white), borne in early summer above dense clusters of slender, glossy leaves. Of sturdy constitution, "it thrives in the South like a native" (Ogden), succeeding in most soils in sun or semishade. Subtropical/tropical; SW Mexico. Zone 8. 1-yr. seedlings.
'Tropical Giant' ~ A "magnificent plant" (Howard), "perhaps the finest of all foliage perennials in the South" (Ogden), featuring "lush fountains of glossy, sword-shaped leaves," and fragrant white midsummer blooms on 3- to 4-foot scapes. It grows and increases well in containers or in the ground. Tropical; W Indies. Zone 8.
KAEMPFERIA (Zingiberaceae)
Peacock
ginger
rotunda ~ Fragrant, white, purple-winged, lepidopteran flowers on 3-inch stems in spring are succeeded in by broadly lance-shaped, foot-long, silver-splashed leaves with purple reverses. Enchanting, and easy in containers or in shaded Southeast gardens. Winter-dormant. Tropical; SE Asia. Zone 9.
LEDEBOURIA (Hyacinthaceae)
socialis 'Violacea' (Scilla violacea ) ~ Although well worth growing for its silvery, olive-splotched, purple-reversed leaves alone, this scilloid departs from most of its genus in also offering purple-stamened, red-tinged bell-flowers rather than the usual drab olive and white color scheme. An easy and rewarding pot plant, requiring sun, well-drained soil, and a dryish rest in winter. Subtropical; S Africa. Zone 9.
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