Eucomis

Brian Whyer brian.whyer@btinternet.com
Wed, 13 Jul 2005 14:33:48 PDT
I very good summary of growing Eucomis under UK conditions is given on
David Fenwick's African Garden website at
http://www.theafricangarden.com/page44.html and
http://www.theafricangarden.com/page45.html and his gallery of photos on
http://www.theafricangarden.com/page40.html 
I have seen Eucomis zambesiaca growing and flowering at RHS Rosemoor in
north Devon on a woodland bank, and superficially it looked very similar
to the dwarf form of E. autumnalis I grow here 25miles west of London.
All of the bulbs of E. comosa (hyb?) or autumnalis I now have in pots or
in the garden, or have passed on to friends, have come from seed. I have
not knowingly lost any to frost or winter wet. I recall David telling me
that deeper planting discouraged bulb splitting with some of his bulbs,
and hence presumably more chance of flowering the less easy types.

As regards greenhouse fans and air movement improving the turgidity of
the leaves; could it not be similar to young trees where staking low
down the stem to allow flexing, encourages the production of a stronger
skeletal system?

Brian Whyer, Buckinghamshire, England, zone ~8


More information about the pbs mailing list