Flores and Watson old Leucocoryne seed
Jane McGary (Thu, 25 Dec 2003 10:38:49 PST)

Diane Whitehead asked about her Leucocoryne seedlings, >Many of the small
islands around here have native cactus and all but two Cyclamen species
grow well outside on them, even ones that are grown in pots in England. (I
forget which the two are, but persicum, libanoticum, cyprium, africanum are
fine.) Is there any chance that such an island garden would approximate
the area you describe?

Answer: I did not realize how much warmer Diane's garden is than mine --
she is on the coast, more than 300 miles north of where I live, but I'm
about 200 miles inland and at 1600 feet elevation. If those cyclamen grow
outside for her, she is at least two "zones" warmer than me.

I talked with a curator at the Valparaiso Botanic Garden last year, and he
told me they had been as cold as minus 4 C (about 25 F) in recent years.
Valparaiso, Chile, is a native area for Leucocoryne coquimbensis and
Pasithea caerulea. In Diane's area I'd certainly try them outside,
especially if she is in a "rain shadow" area. The other species we're
talking about seem to grow more to the north, in the real "fog desert,"
where they may never experience frost; I suppose it would depend on the
topography, but I don't remember seeing them east of the coast ranges.
Pabellonia (syn. Leucocoryne) incrassata was probably at least 300 miles
north of Valparaiso when I saw it, and growing almost within sight of the
ocean.

With best wishes for the New Year,
Jane McGary