Thank you Peter. I did a Google search and come up with this: The Shelford Hybrids are E x isabellinus and also 'Cleopatra' and so is 'Pinokkio' and there is apparently also a 'Romance' and one called 'Oase'. I will continue to read the Google references. Knowing this will help me a lot. I buy most of my cold hardy bulbs from Scheepers and they have one or another of these. In future, I will stick to these and see if I can get some to grow for me here. We are in zone 9b - it's not that far from 8, but as Dave pointed out, it very rarely gets below about 40F here. I see Scheepers also lists E. ruiter hybrids (small 'r'). I wonder what these are? Cathy Craig President PBS Maritime zone 9b There is a series of hybrids, E x isabellinus, from E.olgae x E.stenophyllus which I am finding reliable growers here, and come in a good range of colours. I have also seen them growing in large clumps in borders. My weather conditions are not too different from yours except the temperature range is shifted downwards and probably with more rain. In fact our conditions are far removed from those of Afghanistan. Light or well drained soil is probably the most important factor and avoid damaging the large overwintering buds which are at surface level Peter.Maynard@btinternet.com S.E. England Zone 8 Coastal Plain natales grate numeras