Eranthis question
Jane McGary (Tue, 10 Aug 2004 16:52:06 PDT)

John Ingram asked about Eranthis.

Eranthis tubers do not retain their vigor well in dry storage, so buying
them from a U.S. importer such as John mentioned means getting tubers that
are probably too dried out to perform well. If you have no alternative,
then when you get them, soak them overnight at room temperature and then
plant them immediately; some may grow.

The plants are much attacked by slugs and, presumably, snails. In this
area, the best displays are in gardens with a lot of chemical application
and extremely clean cultivation (short lawns, high-pruned shrubs, no loose
mulches).

Regarding crocuses and pests, rabbits are likely to eat crocus foliage,
resulting in the decline of the plants. Squirrels dig up and eat the corms,
and towhees (a bird) pull up the shoots and eat the corms. Both these
problems are less likely when the crocuses are grown in grass. C.
tommasinianus is the best for naturalizing in grass because its leaves tend
to lie horizontally and don't get mowed off too early.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA