Ipheion sellowiana
DaveKarn@aol.com (Fri, 13 Apr 2007 13:21:27 PDT)

I have the tetramerous form of the bright yellow "Beauverdia
sellowiana", aka "Ipheion sellowianum", now considered (iirc)
Nothoscordum sellowianum.

Rodger ~

This is what I have always had for B/I/N sellowiana. Am I to assume there is
another form with six tepals, rather than eight?

For me, this one seems to grow well on neglect! I grow many things in one
gallon black plastic nursery "cans" that are submerged to their rims in the
indigenous soil, often more for convenience than anything else (one never seems to
able to make enough time for everything!!). In general, this pot planting
(because most of it consists of daffodils/seed/seedlings) is kept dry through
our warm, dry summers where several days of 90+ temperatures are common anytime
from early June onward. I do recall reading somewhere that this didn't like
to totally dry out during its dormant period, so I remember to give it some
water from time to time during the summer. Incidentally, the pots are in full
sun, not protected in any manner and have endured temperatures that probably
remained below freezing for 24 hours, usually after having had to endure nights
where the temps have dropped into the single digits Fahrenheit. Hasn't fazed
any of this stuff, although your comments re: winter cold/warm dormancy are
intriguing. I don't recall (because I've really paid little attention to the
pot) if it has leaves in late Fall (that remain over Winter when I'm not here)
but, each Spring, the pot always has a number of bright yellow blossoms that
go on for some time in flush after flush. Over the years the three corms in
the pot have multiplied to the point where each time I look at it, I think, I
really have to divide that. I suppose, like many things, that will be the death
knell to something that just goes on doing its thing, blissfully unaware of a
human's passing thoughts on the process!

Best,
Dave Karnstedt
Silverton, Oregon, USA
Mediterranean climate

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