Erythronium hybrids
Jane McGary (Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:38:54 PDT)
Robin Hansen wrote
A question for Jane and whoever received Erythronium x multiscapoideum or
?? Multiscapoideum itself is blooming but there is an erythronium you
thought might be a hybrid, Jane; it is spectacular! The leaf pattern is
quite a bit darker and more defined and the leaves, stems and buds are all
flushed a wonderful rose. It's not quite in bloom yet and I will get
photos as soon as possible.
Has anyone had this one bloom? And if so, do you have any clues as to
identity? It does seem more vigorous than the species.
I'm having a little trouble placing this but it may be from some E.
hendersonii x E. oregonum hybrids that I raised from Phyllis Gustafson's
cultivated seed. I may have sent some out one summer though I thought I had
planted them all in my garden. The ones I have here are quite varied, and
there is one particularly good one similar to what Robin is describing.
I raise a lot of Erythronium multiscapoideum from seed but haven't noticed
any that appear to be hybrids -- which doesn't mean it won't happen. It
flowers at the same time as a number of other species, and these bulb
frames are a regular orgy pit for the many species of bees and other
pollinators here -- and then there are Erythroniums in the garden too.
(Some of the fritillarias, especially the later flowering ones, are
wasp-pollinated.)
Jane McGary
Northwestern Oregon, USA