The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

Ferraria & Moraea

7 comments


It is the time when the Ferraria and Moraeas start flowering. Last year, the star of the show was a dark chocolate form of Ferraria divaricate. In case you aren’t familiar with it, here are photos from then:


They are developing nicely, and starting to get fat where the buds are. They don’t elongate above the stem and foliage until after the flower pops up and opens.
Now I get to add a third color:


Because it is so green, it has a little trouble showing up if the background isn’t very different, so for the red background, I grabbed the mat the cats sleep on and put it behind the plant.
The flowers have a strong scent of honey, and the ruffles on the edges are taken to an extreme. The flowers usually last only one day, but if it is a little chilly when they open, they will go 2 days.
Also opening for the first time this year is a Moraea vegata:


The first photo is when it starts opening in the morning; the second is when it is fully open in the afternoon; and the third is from the side.
Only about 1½" across, they are related to Irises, but easier to grow. An Iris needs a cold period, but a Moraea likes to grow in mild winter conditions and needs a warm, dry period during the summer. Moraeas grow from small bulbs, so there is a repeat performance every year.
Also in flower is Fessia greihuberi, which looks a lot like a Muscari and multiplies just as fast.

More blog posts by wylieintheazores

Previous post: Mid-January flowers

Next post: Mid-winter flowers



Comments

 

They are all beauties love the colours to and shapes I much prefer Fessia greihuberiso very pretty to Muscari.

23 Jan, 2019

 

Some beauties there, but I simply love the Fessia...so delicate.

26 Jan, 2019

 

The Fessia is nice, but I favor the Ferrarias.

27 Jan, 2019

 

Wouldn't do if we were all the same :-)

27 Jan, 2019

 

I especially love those top 2 photos... amazing chocolate colour and intricate patterns !

2 Feb, 2019

 

As long as they get sun and temperatures above 10°C, Ferrarias are actually easy to grow. But the slugs love them.

3 Feb, 2019

 

I try to avoid growing anything which the slugs like to eat ! Well done on finding ways to help your flowers to survive !

3 Feb, 2019

Add a comment

Recent posts by wylieintheazores

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    21 Nov, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    25 Feb, 2011

  • Gardening with friends since
    7 Aug, 2007

  • Gardening with friends since
    20 Jan, 2014

  • Gardening with friends since
    14 Aug, 2008