Perennial tulips (T. sprengeri)
Rodger Whitlock (Mon, 05 May 2003 20:24:16 PDT)
On 2 May 03 at 17:02, Mary Sue Ittner wrote:
I'm was glad to read Steve echo my sentiments about T. sprengeri. I
heard it was a really nice late blooming one and twice I've had no
luck with it from seed. A few have come up, but haven't really
gotten beyond that. I was amazed to hear that every seed germinated
in British Columbia. Does tulip seed need to be sown fresh?
I got my start from society seed exchange material, but of course you
only need one flowering bulb to set off the avalanche.
It takes a while to reach flowering size from seed; it's not quick
in that regard. The seedlings mature more quickly if planted out
than if kept in a pot. In your foggy N. California coastal climate,
a slightly raised location might be advisable.
But let me praise Tulipa sprengeri. It is a beautiful plant,
completely distinctive, and I would miss it if I lost it. The flowers
are smallish, and brilliantly red, and come at the end of the tulip
season when all the rest are just memories. A wonderful plant if you
don't mind volunteers.
--
Rodger Whitlock
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
"To co-work is human,
to cow-ork, bovine."