Jonathan asked “In the Wiki intro to Barnardia it is stated that "It consists of species that flower before the leaves have developed." Then, in the description for B. japonica, it is stated that it "produces linear leaves followed by ... flowers". Can someone clarify this?" my plants that seem to follows the description for both Barnardia and Prospero ( all came as Scilla autumnale and later separated by me) both send up flowers stalks before the leaves but the leaves follow close behind. the first blooming ones (Prospero) bloom in Mid August here are a lilac color and have reeded stems, August bloomers: https://flickr.com/photos/32952654@N06/… <https://flickr.com/photos/32952654@N06/…> photos includes both prospero and early hyacinthoides lingulata the later ones that bloom in September are a pink color (and follow the desc for Barnardia). September bloomers: https://flickr.com/photos/32952654@N06/… <https://flickr.com/photos/32952654@N06/…> these are all the Barnardia japonica I have been told that i cannot have Prospero because it cannot be hardy here with our severe cold winters but the above two are very different plants so i like to think i have both genres. The similar plant Scilla (hyacinthoides) lingulata comes in many forms from various locations in N. Africa- the earliest ones bloom in late August and send up flower stalks first and leaves come quickly behind as the flowers fade. The later blooming ones ones- Oct- Nov- Dec boomers grow a rosette of leaves first followed by flowers. some are still blooming now in a frame under a mountain of snow where the leaves go the later ones get boytritus because there is no air movement. photos of some Scilla (hyacinthoides) lingulata can be seen here: https://flickr.com/photos/32952654@N06/… <https://flickr.com/photos/32952654@N06/…> So i think the timing for flowers and leaves is a function of when and where they bloom. if they bloom when it is hot the flowers come first, if they bloom when it is cooler, the leaves come first. i have not correlated the original location with flower timing and seasonal temperatures. maybe Peter Tagget or Kurt Vickery would know. Rimmer SE Michigan Zone 5 _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/