Dave: Very interesting results with chasmanthe. We have Chasmanthe bicolor ready to plant out in spring. Winter temps to -13C would be considered a mild winter here. We are also trialing many watsonias. So far W. pillansii has been fine for two winters, but we've got 10 additional species that will go into the ground in spring. I often wonder if there we need to make higher elevation collections of many of these species to get better winter hardiness. At 09:25 PM 12/7/2003 -0000, you wrote: >>>>>>>We are preparing some winter hardiness trials and am curious what are >the >lowest temperatures that anyone has had luck growing any of the chasmanthe >species? > >Hi Tony, >Chasmanthe bicolor should be hardy with you, but you'll have to try the rest >three times. > >Chasmanthe bicolor corms are planted outside here 4 inches deep, south >facing and under the protection of a crown lifted Buddleija salvifolia. The >flower and scape colours are much stronger if grown outside, and indeed I >now prefer to grow it this way. > >I have found this to be the hardiest species and will survive temps down to >at least -5C, and windchill to -11C, it is also more wind tolerant than >other species. There's one thing about it though, you'll have to plant a >large number of bulbs in one area to be successful with it. I've tried >planting the odd bulb or odd group of bulbs here outside for a few years, >and these all failed. When I planted a group of about fifty they >overwintered beautifully, obviously the larger group provided better >drainage and afforded the colony amassed protection from the elements. I've >had similar success with Watsonia here, and planting them in the same >manner, but much deeper. > >I have tried C. floribunda here outside, and under the cover of a tree, and >with the support of a Euryops chrysanthemoides. However it does not like the >cold or the wind. Sadly I haven't the space to plant 50 floribunda bulbs in >the garden, some of which can get over 9 inches across. > >Best Wishes, >Dave > >David Fenwick >The African Garden >96 Wasdale Gardens >Estover >Plymouth >Devon >England >PL6 8TW > >01752 301402 > > >--- >Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. >Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com/). >Version: 6.0.544 / Virus Database: 338 - Release Date: 25/11/03 > > >_______________________________________________ >pbs mailing list >pbs@lists.ibiblio.org >http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > Tony Avent Plant Delights Nursery @ Juniper Level Botanic Garden 9241 Sauls Road Raleigh, NC 27603 USA Minimum Winter Temps 0-5 F Maximum Summer Temps 95-105F USDA Hardiness Zone 7b email tony@plantdelights.com website http://www.plantdel.com/ phone 919 772-4794 fax 919 772-4752 "I consider every plant hardy until I have killed it myself...at least three times" - Avent