LEUCOJUM (Liliaceae)
Snowflake |
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| Leucojum vernum ssp. carpathicum
~
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/$5 |
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" (Jellitto & Schacht) and
colchiphiles. They like sun and well-drained soil, and so take well to
the rock garden or cool greenhouse. |
|
| Merendera sobolifera
~ In late winter 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 the cool greenhouse, bulb frame, rock garden, or sand
bed. Steppe/montane; Caucasus to N Iran. Zone 6. Enter quantity: |
1/$4 |
MUSCARI (Hyacinthaceae) |
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 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.
Enter quantity:
|
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. |
>SOLD OUT
1/$3 |
NECTAROSCORDUM (Alliaceae)
Honey garlic |
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 Nectaroscordum tripedale
~
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.
|
|
 Ornithogalum fimbriatum ~ As our opening
rebuttal to the "ornithogalums are thugs" canard, we
submit this highly gardenworthy species, which throws clusters of
starry, white, green-striped flowers early in
the season (February/March) on 2- to 4-inch scapes. Increasing steadily
(but not aggressively) by offsets, it grows best in well-drained, sunny
sites. Modified continental/montane; Ukraine to Turkey. Zone 5. |
SOLD OUT
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 more compact than typical O. fimbriatum.
Modified continental/montane; Crimea. Zone 5.
Enter quantity:
|
1/$4 |
 Ornithogalum fimbriatum
'Oreanda' ~ Same species, different look, with broader leaves and
taller (6-inch) scapes than the above. Equally beautiful, though.
Modified continental; Crimea. Zone 5.
Enter quantity:
|
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. |
SOLD OUT
1/$6 |