LEUCOJUM (Amaryllidaceae)
Snowflake |
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| Leucojum autumnale (Acis autumnalis)
~
Elizabeth Lawrence grew and treasured this hardiest of the
fall-blooming snowflakes, pronouncing it the "most adorable bulb I
know (other than Narcissus assoanus)." The
flowers are minute crystalline bells, one or two to a 6-inch scape,
hung on hairlike pedicels. The leaves emerge shortly after the flowers. It relishes sun and well-drained soil, and
is thus one of the best bulbs for rock gardens. The taxonomists have decided that all the fall-blooming leucojums should go by the generic name Acis, but we need a little time to warm to that concept. Mediterranean; W Mediterranean. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$3 |
 Leucojum autumnale 'September Snow'
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Sometimes snow in autumn can be good. Small sculpted sugary white bellflowers nod from wiry scapes in late September and October. For those who like their autumn snowflakes as white as the driven snow, this selection is completely unadulterated by the pink undertones found in many forms of the species (which is placed by some under the genus Acis, but we're not convinced). Mediterranean; W Mediterranean. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$3 |
| Leucojum autumnale var. oporanthum
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In this variant – whose not particularly illuminating moniker translates as "autumn flowering" – the leaves are relatively tardy in their appearance. Its scapes can reach a lofty 10 inches tall. It comes from the mountains of extreme northwestern Morocco, just across the Straits from Spain. Mediterranean; W Mediterranean. Zone 6. Enter quantity: |
1/$3 |
| Leucojum nicaeense (Acis nicaeensis) PJC.277
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Looking for all the world like a Leucojum autumnale that got its seasons wrong, this lovely sprite opens nodding, pure white, bowl-shaped flowers in mid-spring on 4- to 6-inch scapes. The leaves appear in fall. This makes an ideal subject for a trough, wall, or patio crevice. Mediterranean; SE France. Zone 6. Enter quantity: |
1/$5 |
| Leucojum vernum ssp. carpathicum
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So often sought but so rarely obtainable, spring snowflake belies its name by coming into bloom in late winter. In this even lovelier than usual form, the solitary white bell-flowers have a yellow blotch at the tip of each of their six segments. Just the thing for planting in moist humus-rich soil in partial shade, where it may very well self-sow. Modified continental/Mediterranean; C & S Europe. Zone 5. AGM |
SOLD OUT
1/$6 |
MERENDERA (Liliaceae) |
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| Often merged with
Colchicum, but distinguished from that
genus (as is Bulbocodium vernum) by their completely separate (rather than basally fused)
"petals", which open starrily in full sun, the merenderas make
"excellent plants for collectors" (Jelitto & Schacht), rock gardeners, and
colchiphiles. They like sun and well-drained soil. |
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 Merendera sobolifera
~ In late winter and earliest spring the curious, rhizome-like corms of this little cutie
send up crowds of inch-wide, pale-pink star-flowers, making it an ideal
candidate for an alpine trough, sand bed, or any other niche with moderately dry soil in summer. Steppe/montane; Caucasus to N Iran. Zone 6. |
SOLD OUT
1/$4 |
MUSCARI (Hyacinthaceae) |
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| Muscari
dionysicum AH.8965
~ At first glance it's hard to believe this 30-inch-tall plant, which in full bloom resembles a blue liatris or kniphofia or eremerus or something of the like, is actually a grape hyacinth. It blooms here in May, providing one of the highlights of the spring garden. Mediterranean/montane; N Greece. Zone 5.
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1/$8 |
 Muscari leucostomum
~ Black-blue, white-fringed "grapes" are freely produced in April on 6-
to 8-inch stems. As striking as it is obscure, and readily cultivated in a sunny, well-drained site. Steppe; central Asia. Zone 6.
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1/$3 |
 Muscari pallens
~ Not one
of the imposters usually sold under this name, but a striking selection
with short racemes of ethereal, pale blue bells on 5-inch scapes in
May. It prefers full sun and well-drained, loamy soil that doesn't dry
out in summer. Modified continental/montane; C Caucasus. Zone 5.
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1/$3 |
NARCISSUS (Amaryllidaceae)
Daffodil; jonquil |
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 Narcissus x johnstonii
('Queen of Spain') ~ N. pseudonarcissus and N. triandrus had an assignation in the wild, with – as you might expect – alluring results. Nodding blooms with ruffled soft lemon-yellow trumpets and creamy perianths bob on
10-inch scapes in April. The flowers are
intermediate in size and form between those of the parents, "Persistent and reliable" (Jelitto &
Schacht) in sun and well-drained soil, but rarely offered.
Mediterranean/maritime; N Spain. Zone 6.
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1/$12 |
 Narcissus poeticus var.
physaloides JMH.8217 ~ The name - which loosely translates as
Chinese lantern poet's narcissus - is not a botanical hoax, but rather
a reference to this variety's intriguingly inflated buds. Of perhaps
greater interest to gardeners, though, is that they open into one or
sometimes two alabaster-white, 2-1/2-inch-wide flowers, bearing the
small, red-rimmed corona and the intense fragrance for which the
species is renowned. More compact (8 to 12
inches tall) than commonly cultivated forms, it shares their May bloom
and their preference for moist soil and partial shade.
Maritime/Mediterranean; S France. Zone 5. Enter quantity:
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1/$12 |
NECTAROSCORDUM (Alliaceae)
Honey garlic |
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 Nectaroscordum tripedale
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Surpassing in beauty the far-better-known (but also lovely) N. siculum,
this close relative of Allium wows
onlookers with its fountaining umbels of drooping, pink (suffused with
green), 3/4-inch bells on 3-foot stems in June. The effect is of a
grander, pinker, denser- (and larger-) flowered N. siculum.
It prospers in well-drained soil in sun or light shade. As always
supply is limited and demand will be high, so please order early.
Modified continental/montane; Caucasus. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$9 |
ORNITHOGALUM (Hyacinthaceae)
Star of Bethlehem |
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We've said it many times and we'll say it
again: ornithogalums (or at least the ones we offer) ARE NOT WEEDS.
They're durable, adaptable, beautiful, well-behaved garden citizens,
comprising some of the best bulbs for the perennial border, rock
garden, and alpine house. We think it unreasonable and just a tad
obtuse to dismiss them wholesale because one or two thugs have blotted
their family (or, rather, generic) escutcheon. Even though gardeners
seem to have let the black sheep prejudice them against the entire
genus (which is the only reason we can come up with for its lack of
popularity), we will continue to offer these wonderful plants, and to
enjoy the unsold surplus ourselves. So there.
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| Ornithogalum exscapum ~ As our opening
rebuttal to the "ornithogalums are thugs" canard, we submit this highly gardenworthy species, which in April earns its botanical moniker by throwing clusters of starry, white, green-veined blooms on scapes that barely clear the arching grassy leaves. Like most of the compact models of ornithogalum, it grows best in well-drained, sunny sites, and is perfect for a rock garden, patio, or wall. Mediterranean/montane; S Europe. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$4 |
 Ornithogalum fimbriatum ~ Another lovely little ornithogalum, this one bears flowers that are similar in vein to the above - except for their lack of veining. It is also a bit longer in the scape and broader and hairier in the leaf. Borne in conspicuous bunches, the snowy blooms are most pleasing in the April garden, opening wide in full sun. Modified continental/montane; Ukraine to Turkey. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$4 |
 Ornithogalum fimbriatum
'Ai-Petri' ~ Isn't it nice when a species comes in several beautiful variations? Here the leaves are much narrower than the type and covered with dense hairs. It's also slightly more compact than typical O. fimbriatum. It is similarly endowed with dense umbels of pure white flowers.
Modified continental/montane; Crimea. Zone 5.
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1/$4 |
 Ornithogalum fimbriatum
'Oreanda' ~ Same species, a third look, with broader leaves and
taller (6-inch) scapes than usual. Equally beautiful, though.
Modified continental; Crimea. Zone 5.
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1/$4 |
 Ornithogalum magnum
~ It's a complete puzzlement why this "stately species with beautiful
white flowers" (Jelitto & Schacht) is so little seen in American
gardens. Three-foot-tall scapes bear large, green-striped blooms in
late May and June. Easily cultivated, well-behaved, and perfect for the
sunny perennial border. Modified continental; SW Russia. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$4 |
 Ornithogalum ponticum
'Sochi' ~ Dense, showy spikes of dazzling white flowers (on
2-foot stems) in June make this recent introduction one of the best of
the many outstanding tall ornithogalums (which means it's also one of
the best ornamentals for the early summer border). Modified
continental/montane; Caucasus. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$6 |
| Ornithogalum pyrenaicum
var. flavescens ~ Yes, there is such a thing as an ornithogalum that is NOT white (with green highlighting). This variety bears the usual star-shaped flowers in an offbeat hue – pale sulfur yellow. The flowers are spaced along scapes that approach 3 feet in height. Modified continental/steppe; E Europe. Zone 5. Enter quantity: |
1/$6 |
 Ornithogalum sintenisii
~ This nearly unknown species bears clusters of 15 to 25 snow-white, green-striped flowers in March and April on 3-inch scapes. Delightful – and (need we add) noninvasive. Modified
continental; Azerbaijan. Zone 5.
Enter quantity:
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1/$4 |