By Aimankay
Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
African Lilies? I think they are african lilies but not sure. Does anyone know botanical name and they have died down after flower in may/june. Now, they seem to have showing buds (probably seeds). Just wondering if I remove the top part without disturbing the roots/ bulbs/clumps then will they flower next year or not?
- 7 Jul, 2010
Answers
Are bluebells not same as african lilies?
7 Jul, 2010
No African lilies are an Agapanthus, bluebells are Hyacinthoides non-scripta. Looking at the photo I suspect they are the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) which is slowly but surely wiping out the native bluebell.
7 Jul, 2010
They definitely are bluebells, and I have never heard of bluebells also being known as African Lilies.
7 Jul, 2010
on the far right there appears to be a muscari too.
7 Jul, 2010
And Agapanthus (African Lilies) flower mid-late summer with flowers in a dense umbel , not arranged up a scape (flower stalk) like these.
7 Jul, 2010
OK, so they are bluebells. any taker for my second part of the quesion? :-)
7 Jul, 2010
You can collect the seeds once they are ripe and sow but frankly you will find it easier to let them self seed. If you do collect the ripe seed fill a small plant pot with potting compost almost to the top, sprinkle the seed on and cover with a thin layer of compost or grit. Label and place the pot in semi shady conditions, preferably where you want the bulbs to be when they grow. In around 2 years you will se what looks like grass growing out of the pot, it will take another few years for the bulbs to grow to flowering size. We grow lots of bulbs from seed and it is not a quick process.
8 Jul, 2010
yes take the seed heads off and remove the dead leaves and the bulbs will come up again next year.
8 Jul, 2010
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At first glance they look like Bluebells to me.
7 Jul, 2010