Growing bulbs in the bay area
Jane McGary (Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:16:25 PDT)

I hope to be able to send a lot of Calochortus seed to the BX later
this summer. Most of the species have not matured their seed yet.

This year I was prepared and wrote the abbreviated names of the
species on white surgical tape, which I stuck around each stem; also
identified the color of the different C. venustus forms.

The late-bloomers are just opening now: C. clavatus, C. weedii, C.
plummerae. It's interesting that there are a few California Allium
species that flower at this time too. The latest of the Pacific coast
Themidaceae is opening now: Brodiaea californica.

I should think it would be very easy to grow Pacific coast species of
Calochortus in San Francisco, especially if the property has the
sandy soil I remember from when I lived there (out in the avenues).
However, species from the northern and interior regions might be more
difficult; they are definitely more recalcitrant in terms of
germination. This is hardly something to lament, though, because the
interior species are, for the most part, not as showy. As another
post mentioned, Calochortus have to be protected from deer and
rabbits, which will eat the flowering stems before they even open.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA

At 02:32 PM 7/23/2012, you wrote: