Bulbs for Shade--TOW

Roy M. Sachs rmsachs@ucdavis.edu
Mon, 19 May 2003 11:50:18 PDT
Did we specify how much shade? and where one lives?  and how plants 
do with morning sun only and afternoon shade?

In Davis, CA I grow as much as possible, including glads, watsonia, 
freesia, Amaryllis belladonna, Hippeastrums, alstroemeria, etc., in 
at least 30% shade (but we have 2x the irradiance of almost anyplace 
in New Jersey, the Finger Lakes, NY, and many more spots I've lived 
in the US).  And I've been told by some nurserymen to go up to 50% 
shade.

At one time in a problems course in horticulture we were able to show 
that it wasn't the high light that killed most shade plants tested, 
but the accompanying high heat of the leaves (we used water filters 
to intercept infra-red wavelengths without seriously reducing 
incident light).

At a Russian River location, which has irradiance about as high as in 
Davis, I can grow many things in full sun and with high quality 
inflorescences which do poorly in Davis. A good measure of shade 
loving is how hydrangeas do; they do poorly in full sun in both Davis 
and on the Russian river.

>In Southern California the number one shade plant is Clivia, just plain
>orange or any of the other great shades available now, even variegated.  I
>would pick the Veltheimia as next, then Hippeastrum papillio.
>Cyclamen is great for winter, tends to die back a little early.
>Crinum moorei likes shade (and so does a hymenocallis I have but don't ask
>for the name, it did not come labeled)
>Oh well, went over five
>Patty Colville
>
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