Colchicum graecum
Jane McGary (Mon, 18 Aug 2003 12:26:08 PDT)
Mark Wilcox in Washington DC wrote,
Yesterday I noticed that I have first flowering on Colchicum graecum,
which was planted last fall. Does it typically bloom so early? Lycoris
squamigera has just finished blooming, and L. sprengeri has yet to bloom.
Perhaps the unusually wet and comparatively cool temperatures we've had
this year are responsible? I'd welcome any ideas to explain this
unexpected surprise.
Some fall bulbs seem to respond to water and some to lower soil
temperature. The earliest Colchicum to flower here is usually C. alpinum,
which is as the name implies a plant of higher elevations, where it would
have to bloom earlier to go through its reproductive cycle. I think that
Colchicums are more likely to respond to moisture -- they often bloom in
their shipping bags, where moisture is retained but where one supposes they
are fairly warm.
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon.
No colchicums yet.