Lycoris report - 2
Steve Marak (Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:45:08 PDT)
Kelly,
No, there's really nothing in the way of winter protection where the L.
radiata are - our entire lot does slope gently to the west, but there's no
ridge or other protection feature. I certainly don't do anything in the
way of mulching or otherwise helping them!
They've been there at least 15 years, maybe more, so they've been through
some zone 6 winters, as opposed to what we have seen for the last 9
years or so (no temperatures below -18 C/0 F at our place).
L. radiata is far less common in yards in this area than L. squamigera,
but isn't that rare, and some of them have been there for as long as
anyone in the households can remember with little or no care. I'm always
reluctant to suggest someone else risk their bulbs in a hardiness test,
and you get a bit colder than we do, but I'd think your odds were good.
They do produce fertile seed, and they've been in the area for at least
decades - perhaps there has been some selection at work?
Steve
On Fri, 29 Aug 2008, Kelly Irvin wrote:
Steve:
My L. radiata var. pumila are in full bloom, too, not expecting the var.
radiata for another week or so. I guess I'm amazed that you are
successfully growing them without protection. I must admit I've not
tried to grow them without winter protection, but maybe I could???
Are yours on a south slope or wall?
Steve Marak wrote:
few stragglers. My L. radiata, obtained locally years ago, sets lots of
seed every year and so I assume it's the diploid form, which may account
-- Steve Marak
-- samarak@gizmoworks.com