Buyer Beware -Part 2

Rodger Whitlock totototo@mail.pacificcoast.net
Sat, 13 Sep 2003 12:10:44 PDT
On 10 Sep 03 at 8:59, Jane McGary wrote:

> Jim Waddick mentioned Photoshop-doctored photos in a bulb catalog.

> ...And as for the colors they think up to paint the crocuses --
> there was one catalog I got recently that showed some fall species
> as bright rose pink.

Probably Crocus kotschyanus (syn. C. zonatus), which is actually 
rather pretty, a pale lavender/mauve with some yellow in the throat.

This species is notorious because the clone usually sold is nearly 
non-flowering. I've had a few of those and the petals were distorted, 
suggesting a viral infection. (Whatever happened to phytosanitary 
certification? Isn't a virus a disease?)

But there are forms of C. kotschyanus with quite big, showy flowers. 
There is a patch by a certain bus stop here, presumably a relict of 
an old garden, and they are much, much better than any commercial 
form I've ever seen.


-- 
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Maritime Zone 8, a cool Mediterranean climate

on beautiful Vancouver Island


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