Acidanthera

I mean to grow these pretty flowers every year, so delightful.

I like this and was trying to look it up - but is it a Gladiolus callianthus bulb or is it a Lily Spritz?

Sorry Denise - it's G. callianthus. I'm dreadful - I hate it when names are changed. I have 'Acidanthera' in my head. Yes, they are bulbs, and like Gladioli, they're not reliably hardy.

Thanks Spritz.

:-) You're welcome.

Lovely, I put a few of these in this year but quite late, some foliage but no flowers yet :^)

There's still time. :-)

As with most all my plants I was late getting these in the ground this spring...they're up but no sign of flowers yet. These are such wonderful flowers for an accent in the beds..I planted mine with dahlias..Due to undue haste last autumn I got my acidanthera and crocosmia bulbs mixed up... wonder what I'll get? lol....

they're not playing the name game with these are they? ...They will always be A.murielae to me!! The crocosmia bulbs are almost indistinguishable from the A.murielae. but the bulbs of the Crocosmia are hardy even here in Canada, but like the glads, the A. has to be lifted and stored for the winter.

Yes, they are, Lori. I can't think of them by any name except 'Acidanthera' either. I do hope you get some blooms this year. I buy new bulbs each year, as the old ones only seem to produce leaves.

I've had the descendants of the first six bulbs that I bought years ago...they produce bulblets like mad. I plant the bulblets on and in two years they flower. went from six to umpteen...I like the leaves as accent too.

<Sigh>. Now you're making me feel guilty about the bulblets! They didn't survive last winter, though - they went all squishy. Yuk!

I have tried Tulbhagia this year. I planted 10 in a pot. Four have come up ...little clumps of leaves, but no sign of any flowers. Should have gone for these perhaps! Actually, I'm sure I did plant some of these in the borders, but no sign of them...not surprising given the winter!

I've given up on Tulbaghia, Karen. I just can't get it to flower for me.

LOL...no guilt B.! My bulbs were hastily dug up and they need a couple of days for the soil to dry off of them...then into a paper bag. That's it. You were probably very conscientious and kind...guess they need tough love! I have never heard of Tulbaghia. Will try a little search, you've made me curious.

Very interesting B...thanks!

I think they need heat, full sun, and a very well-drained soil, Karen.

Lori, on consideration, I shall just carry on buying new Acidanthera bulbs each year - I have a source where I get them so cheaply if I buy 50, that it makes it worth having new ones.

Ha ha ha...NO CHANCE then! lol :))

Not if you drown them, Karen! :-((

I cannot seem to grow these now, when I lived in East Sussex I had these come back every year just growing in the soil.

I just give up on them in the soil - it's probably the colder winters. If I'm lucky, I get a few leaves, that's all. :-( So - pots it is!

Lemondog..just lift them every October/November as you would other tender corms/rhizomes/bulbs. Store them in a root cellar or basement in a brown paper bag somewhere that's not too dry or too damp. I guess I'm making work for myself but I've never tried pots~ it would be easier to move them into storage that way. :-)