Scilla--TOW
James Waddick (Thu, 11 Dec 2003 08:50:29 PST)

Sorry for the slow response, I started this a day or two ago and have
just struggled to get back to finish it up. Apologize for its
diss-jointed-ness. A few inches of snow (and temps to 12 or so) have
slowed things for everyone.

Dear Mary Sue and all;
OK, OK.
Scilla siberica is extremely easy here. I know a few places
where it self sows to glorious weediness- a waterfall of blue on a
spring hillside. The alba form is certainly less spectacular. Small
flowers , weaker, etc.
A friend glowed over Scilla bifolia so I bought a few (blue
and white I think maybe pink too) and was unimpressed with the small
size and tendency to get lost here.

Yes, Jane and I talked about the Scilla 'scilloides' group
(for lack of a better name). I grow Scilla autumnale on a dry wall
-very tiny rose flowers that are easy to just not notice. Scilla
japonica with slightly large spikes and blue, but extremely tiny.
Both fall bloomers. Neither corresponds to what Jane has a S.
scilloides. I collected S. chinensis in China (Sichuan) in a few
locations where it is very common and grew it for years under this
name, but now (that it is gone) I think it may have been S.
scilloides. All seem different but not grown together. Perhaps Jane
and I will exchange a few bulbs to try out.

I love S. campanulata (now Hyacinthoides hispanica) and have
white,pink and blue. They bloom later than S. siberica, larger and
far more impressive. Wish I room to grow a hillside of these. I also
have bought mixed Scilla campanulata (ie Hyacinthoides hispanica?)
and just 25 each of 'Miss World' and 'Dainty Maid'. Sorry now I
didn't try 'Excelsior' after Jerry's praise.

I confess to near total confusion over the names of
non-scripta(I have bought bulbs under this name). Nice, but not very
exciting. Would love to get a source for the real thing and why would
this be so rare in the trade and so common in the British woodlands.

Has mention been made of Scilla (H) mischtschenkoana
'Tubergeniana'? I may have missed this. I just planted 100 this
fall and hope to see something this coming spring. Said to be paler
blue than siberica.

Scilla/Hyacinthoides italica puts up foliage in the fall and
struggles to keep green through spring and blooms just sort of so-so.
It has survived for years in a slightly protected spot, but never
been a winner.

I have a small pot of S. lingulata in the cold greenhouse
where it is putting up spikes (thanks to Fausto), but I doubt it has
any hardiness and will probably pass it along some year when it is
dormant.

I have tried S. numidica and it came up for a year or two
outdoors, never bloomed and vanished. There are still a couple in a
pot somewhere protected, but they too are unhappy and I can't recall
actually seeing a flower!

Over the years I have had a bulb or two of S peruviana and
perhaps some other much too tender and long gone. I do like these in
pots in cool greenhouse, but eventually I tire of their constant care
and protection so leave them or give them away.

Basically Scilla and its allies are very important hardy
bulbs. S, siberica dominates all others in number and adaptability.
I'd love to try others and appreciate suggestions about really hardy
species to try here. There's plenty more to try.

Many thanks to Jerry and Mary Jane for all their pointed comments.

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
E-fax 419-781-8594

Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +