Syringodea species (also called Cape Crocuses)

[Bern]

I have been trying to obtain information about the cultural requirements of the various cultivated species in the genus Syringodea. I've read the wiki, searched the Forum and List, and scoured the internet. But, I still have a few questions, so I thought I'd post them on the Forum. 

First, here's the wiki link and a wikipedia link.

https://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/Syringodea
 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syringodea

These sources identify some species and mention either their in situ locality, or if they grow in winter or summer rainfall areas.  It seems that the species most widely available in S. longituba, a winter grower.

I'd like to ask if anyone is growing any of the species from summer rainfall areas?  These species appear to be bifucata, concolor, flanaganii, and pulchella.  Are there any others?  Do you find the summer rainfall species to be easy or difficult to grow?  What cultural methods do you find successful?  And if you have also grown longituba or another winter rainfall species, can you opine whether you found them easier or more difficult to grow than the summer rainfall ones and why.

These plants have an interesting growth habit and the flowers are beautiful and present nicely.

Thank you!

[CG100]

Lifestyle offers seed of one species ex. hort., although the ID of plants and seeds from Lifestyle is not the most reliable.
Rare Plants UK, which offer some really extremely oddball and rare to cultivation species, lists none at all, and the AGS suggests that two species are rare in trade, but does not mention which ones (which could be an old reference and even refer to willd-dug bulbs).
I don't recall ever seeing them offered by any S African supplier as bulbs.

Difficult to source, difficult to grow or no demand for them?

Maybe drop a mail to Cameron as he did at least provide a chunk of the photo's in the wiki?

[Bern]

Difficult to source, difficult to grow or no demand for them?

Thanks Carl.  I think you are spot on about these bulbs. It's too bad because the flowers are so nice.

There's always Romulea and Tecophilaea to grow in case Syringodea becomes a dead end.

[CG100]

The AGS website says enough to suggest that a few species (there are 8 in total) have been cultivated and to say that they (no mention of species) require frost-free alpine treatment.

If you are not already a member, join the SRGC forum (you do not need to be a member of the society), and ask there. They have large numbers of contributors and several "bulb nuts" amongst those growing alpines in general. Crocus is a favourite of many there, so there is a chance that they know this genus.

Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum - Index

[Bern]

If you are not already a member, join the SRGC forum (you do not need to be a member of the society), and ask there. They have large numbers of contributors and several "bulb nuts" amongst those growing alpines in general. Crocus is a favourite of many there, so there is a chance that they now this genus.

Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum - Index

Hi Carl, Thanks for the good advice. I am a member of the SRGC, but haven't used their forum yet. I'll give it a go to see what I can find out.  I appreciate your help.