Legacy Bulbs Eight

On the legacy bulb wiki pages Kathleen Sayce reviews bulbs that outlast their gardeners, with some hints as to why. Suggestions came from PBS list members, review of world weed lists, USDA PLANTS National Database, Flora of North America, and some university databases. For more information consult Legacy Bulbs Index and Introduction.

Information about relevant Merendera through Nerine species can be found on this wiki page. Information about other species is found on the pages linked below:
Albuca through Amaryllis - Anemone through Chionodoxa - Colchicum through Erythronium - Ficaria through Hyacinthus - Ipheion through Iris - Ixia through Lycoris - Ornithogalum through Sternbergia - Trillium through Zephyranthes


Merendera candidissima syn. Merendera trigyna, now considered by some to be correctly named Colchicum trigynum, native to the Caucasus region, has legacy garden populations mentioned in Illinois.

Merendera candidissima, John Lonsdale

Moraea collina , syn. Homeria collina is from the southwest Cape region of South Africa, WHZ (8?) 9-12. This, along with some other species in the Homeria group, is a robust species and potentially weedy in a Mediterranean climate. It is winter-growing, spring-flowering and summer-dormant.

Moraea collina, Cameron McMasterMoraea collina, Cameron McMaster

Muscari can naturalize quickly, and be very persistent. "When established in suitable habitat, no amount of disturbance will eradicate." Many PBS members mentioned grape hyacinths persisting around former homesteads. Species are native from eastern Europe to Asia; common garden species include the following.

Muscari armeniacum, grape hyacinth, has persisted or naturalized in areas around the Great Lakes. States/provinces include Ontario, Ohio, Illinois, and also Louisiana. It is native to Southeastern Europe; WHZ 3-9.

Muscari armeniacum, Janos AgostonMuscari armeniacum, Janos AgostonMuscari armeniacum, Janos Agoston

Muscari botryoides, grape hyacinth, has persisted to naturalized on the West Coast from British Columbia to California, Utah, and from Texas east, including Ontario, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland; WHZ 2-9. Only the most southeastern states (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina) are not on the map for this species.

Muscari botryoides, Tom MitchellMuscari botryoides, Mary Sue IttnerMuscari botryoides, Mary Sue Ittner

Muscari comosum, see Leopoldia comosa, tassel grape hyacinth, has naturalized/persisted in Washington and Oregon, and in most eastern states; WHZ 3-9.

Muscari latifolium, grape hyacinth, has been mentioned as a persistent bulb by several references. It is native to Turkey, WHZ 2-5.

Muscari latifolium, Martin PhilippoMuscari latifolium, Janos Agoston

Muscari neglectum, starch grape hyacinth, was often planted as a starch source for ironing clothing. It is known to persist from New Mexico, east to Florida, New York and Massachusetts, and around the Great Lakes; WHZ 4-9.

Muscari neglectum, Mary Sue IttnerMuscari neglectum, Michael Mace

Narcissus was mentioned by PBS members from all over North America as being common around former homesteads. As a group, these bulbs are long-lived, durable and being toxic to deer, squirrels and other herbivores, survive where other genera fade away. Species are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia, and the actual number of species is estimated to be 26 to more than 100, including wild hybrids and selections. The American Daffodil Society reports more than 25,000 named cultivars. Species and cultivars both naturalize easily. The following is a partial list of known persistent/naturalized species by state. Note that formal notice of populations via herbarium specimens is often exceeded by reality. This genus is one of the most widespread legacy geophytes.

Narcissus assoanus, rushleaf jonquil, from Louisiana.

Narcissus assoanus, Arnold Trachtenberg

Narcissus bulbocodium, petticoat daffodil, from Louisiana and North Carolina; WHZ 6-9.

Narcissus bulbocodium, Jamie VandeNarcissus bulbocodium ssp. praecox, John Lonsdale

Narcissus x incomparabilis, nonesuch daffodil, from Oregon and many Eastern states, Louisiana and Missouri to New York.

Narcissus x incomparabilis, Angelo Porcelli

Narcissus jonquilla, jonquil, from Utah, Texas, north to Illinois and New York; WHZ 4-9.

Narcissus jonquilla var. henriquesii, Jay YourchNarcissus jonquilla var. henriquesii, Jay Yourch

Narcissus x medioluteus, primrose peerless, many Eastern states, Louisiana north to Michigan and the mid Atlantic seaboard; WHZ 4-9.

Narcissus × medioluteus, Angelo Porcelli

Narcissus × odorus, Campernelle jonquil, Louisiana and Arkansas, Virginia and the Carolinas; WHZ 4-9.

Narcissus papyraceus, paperwhite narcissus, California and Louisiana; WHZ 8-11.

Narcissus papyraceus, Nhu NguyenNarcissus papyraceus, Nhu Nguyen

Narcissus poeticus, poet’s narcissus, British Columbia to Oregon, Utah, and most Eastern states and provinces; WHZ 3-7.

Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus, Giorgio PozziNarcissus poeticus var. recurvus, Giorgio Pozzi

Narcissus pseudonarcissus, wild daffodil, has naturalized or persisting populations in most states and provinces of North America; WHZ 5-10.

Narcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. moschatus, Becky MatthewsNarcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. pseudonarcissus, David PillingNarcissus pseudonarcissus ssp. pseudonarcissus, David Pilling

Narcissus tazetta, cream narcissus, Oregon, California, Texas, and southeastern states north to Virginia; WHZ 6-9.

Narcissus tazetta, Angelo PorcelliNarcissus tazetta, Nhu NguyenNarcissus tazetta, Nhu Nguyen

Nerine is a genus native to South Africa. There are winter-growing, summer-growing and evergreen species; they all like warm summers, but not tropical heat. The hardier species are long lived in warm temperate and Mediterranean climate gardens.

Nerine bowdenii, spider lily; this summer-growing species does best in heat, it will not tolerate tropical or very humid weather; WHZ 7-10.

Nerine bowdenii, Nhu NguyenNerine bowdenii, Nhu Nguyen

Nerine sarniensis, Guernsey lily, is from South Africa, and famously naturalized on the Isle of Guernsey, hence the common name. It is a winter growing species; WHZ 8-10.

Nerine sarniensis, Cameron McMasterNerine sarniensis, Cameron McMaster

Nerine undulata is a summer-growing species, and tender, WHZ 9-11. It was mentioned by a PBS member from SE France as being very durable in gardens.

Nerine undulata, Cameron McMaster

Species listed on other legacy bulb pages can be found alphabetically by clicking on the links below or by going to the index and introduction page where they will be listed in a table.
Albuca through Amaryllis - Anemone through Chionodoxa - Colchicum through Erythronium - Ficaria through Hyacinthus - Ipheion through Iris - Ixia through Lycoris - Ornithogalum through Sternbergia - Trillium through Zephyranthes - Legacy Bulbs Index and Introduction


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