Lycoris NOT TOW
James Waddick (Mon, 27 Jan 2003 11:22:19 PST)

So perhaps this week we can consider Eremurus is the topic or people
can share where Lycoris grows successfully since Jim Waddick has in
his subject heading suggested it as a topic for this week.

Dear all;
I really was just replying to the TOW--Bulbs for Pacific
Northwest since it was brought up. Didn't really mean to alter TOW.
Having sent out thousands of bulbs over the last 13 years (!!!) I'd
love to hear about responses and adaptability of Lycoris.

All but a couple of species grow well here with little care
(my usual). Although I have warned before I will repeat my educated
guesses about Lycxoris and roots. Since I haven't dug established
bulbs at all months, I can't say definitively, but I believe roots
are (semi) permanent. In nature and here they do not receive a dry
baking so roots remain.

However in digging and shipping, roots dry and drop off
rapidly. Mature bulbs planted in the dormant season (roughly July -
Sept.) are able to bloom the fall after planting. These same bulbs
may go on to grow new roots and establish rapidly, but many may take
an entire year to settle in, grow roots and return to vigor. So even
if a bulb blooms the fall after planting it may not bloom the next
fall (to recover) and continue blooming the second fall after
planting.

I have some people say that the bulbs failed to do anything,
then write years later that they were surprised to see a bright
yellow (usually) spot in the garden and found the label for Lycoris
chinensis. Even bulbs with husky foliage can get lost in the spring
rush to green and good gardeners fail to notice that they growing
right along.

I have also had numerous experiences of bulbs failing to show
the next spring and even the second spring after planting and then
appear and bloom the third year. A situation I refer to root
re-growth. This condition may occur in other bulbs, but perhaps less
intensely. This also results in a person asking for bulbs one year
then 2 or 3 years later wanting many more.

Anyway I'd appreciate experiences regarding bloom, growth and
multiplication of Lycoris in the Pacific Northwest or elsewhere.

To allay questions, Yes I will be selling Chinese Lycoris
species again in spring. If you wish to add your name to receive my
availability list please email PRIVATELY with your email and snail
mail addresses. Thanks.
--
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 +