Lycoris Report -Kansas City
James Waddick (Wed, 15 Aug 2012 21:33:22 PDT)

Dear Gastil,
Interesting question, but my reply may be a surprise. It is
well known that fertility of the soil, pH and developmental
temperatures can all influence flower color. Here I think I can rule
out all three. These beds have not been fertilized this year, the pH
is unaltered, too and the warm temps (very warm temps) are difficult
to relate to pigment development temperatures.

On the other hand I am fairly certain that all or most of my
L. sprengeri are individual seedlings and not a a single clone. So
the variation I am seeing is surely genetic variation in a highly
variable species. I did not mention in my earlier note that other
variable show up too. The width of the petals/tepals and the shape of
the flower. Wide petals give a lily like shape, while thinner,
narrower tepals make a very open flower. There is some variation in
stem height, but this year almost all are dwarfed presumably form
lack of water.

If I were more intense in measuring and recording, I think I
could find other characteristics of the flower stalk that expanded
the range of variability, but I think all are simply due to a
genetically diverse population of bulbs.

In the wild I have seen Lycoris growing in fairly dense shade
and on the edge of more open woodlands where they get some time in
full sun (maybe 1/2 a day), but in cultivation they tolerate a lot
more sun as long as they get even moisture year round. Some grow
stream side in nature, but these spring streams may retreat in summer.

By the way, L. squamigera is such an easy reliable bulb that
nothing seems to bother, we can't help but wonder why it is not even
more widely grown. It should also be a significant entry to the cut
flower market. This is one of the 'back bone' traditional bulbs in
this area.

Best Jim W.
--
Dr. James W. Waddick
8871 NW Brostrom Rd.
Kansas City Missouri 64152-2711
USA
Ph. 816-746-1949
Zone 5 Record low -23F
Summer 100F +