Joe, it you still have some Thalia left, I would like to try them Jim McKenney -----Original Message----- From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of ConroeJoe@aol.com Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005 3:17 PM To: pbs@lists.ibiblio.org Subject: [pbs] Thalia dealbata, native geophyte Hi Gang, I treat a lot of plants that I grow as "bulbs" or "bulb-like things." Yet, I know they are not remotely bulb-like in morphology. Thus, I have great fun growing Thalia dealbata, various flowering gingers, die-back Heliconia species, elephant ears, cannas, and other odds and ends in my sort-or-wet-bulbs area. This year the Thalia plants have been especially beautiful towering over some elephant years. Both are near aquatics and I grow both in large tubs. The tall blue leaves of Thalia dealbata, with 5-8 ft. flower stalks are truly beautiful when mixed with lower growing plants. Thalia is a special treat for me because I took a chance and brought some home from a roadside ditch. I didn't know how well they would do without their permanently wet feet. They seem happy enough with the tubs as long as they are watered regularly; they sit in a low area of the yard the floods after some rains and they really enjoy those wet periods (often enough here near Houston, TX). But, the tubs are dry enough too (pot soil level 15-20 inches above the permanent soil), and I can put all sorts of other plants in the tubs including roses, black mondo grass, dryland sedges, even 2-3 Portulaca species (go figure). So, geophyte, marginal aquatic, water canna or wannabe bulb, Thalia dealbata grows right along side several Crinum, Colocasia, and small bananas that like the same conditions. Are bananas geophytes? Locals call the huge rhizomes "banana bulbs." FREE THALIA DEALBATA SEEDS I have a few seeds that I will happily send out for S.A.S.E., I'll try to send about 8 seeds to each recipient. Each S.A.S.E envelope will need 2 first class stamps because the seeds are pea-sized and I'll wrap them in lots of tissue. Be sure to write a private email to make sure I have seeds left. This year I can only mail in the USA. Cordially, Conroe Joe (Joe Shaw, Conroe TX, conroejoe@aol.com) LINK: Thalia dealbata information http://mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/… _______________________________________________ pbs mailing list pbs@lists.ibiblio.org http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php