fall crocus, Eranthis, et al.
Jane McGary (Fri, 13 Aug 2004 10:21:01 PDT)

John INgram wrote,
.> The Frits [imperialis] I have tried them in several spots

This is the usual experience that gardeners have with commercially
purchased bulbs of Fritillaria imperialis. I don't know whether it's that
the bulbs can't stand to be out of the ground, or whether they are all so
virus-infected that they can't adapt to life outside the carefully
controlled conditions of the Dutch bulb farm and warehouse. I suspect that
both are true. The bulbs I have purchased did emerge, but the foliage was
invariably badly distorted and streaked -- virus symptoms.

One occasionally sees healthy-looking stands of F. imperialis in old
gardens, and it would make sense to obtain offsets from these to see if
they can adapt better to cultivation in North America.

Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon