Cardamine californica
Hannon (Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:49:50 PDT)

Colleen,

I've never seen it offered anywhere, alas. Wild populations should not be
difficult to find but timing must be good to catch them with ripe fruits.
They do "explode" as Nhu mentions so must be collected just before
dehiscence or shaken into a bag when they are just ready to open. It should
not be difficult to grow from seed allowing for them to be left undisturbed
the first few seasons because of their depth.

Glenn Keator (Guide to Native Perennials of California, 1990) mentions C.
(Dentaria) californica as a good companion for Dodecatheon, Ranunculus
californica and other early bulbs. Depending on the population, flowering
can extend into April. This book also mentions D. pachystigma and D.
gemmata, montane species that need summer moisture. Both sound very
attractive.

Dylan

On 5 April 2013 11:39, Colleen <silkie@frontiernet.net> wrote:

Thanks Dylan,

Since the tubers grow 5-6 inches down I would think they could withstand
cooler temps, but in researching them I only find mention of their growing
in the milder, coastal locations. I wonder where I might find some to try?

Colleen
NE Calif

-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
On Behalf Of Hannon
Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 10:00 AM
To: Pacific Bulb Society
Subject: Re: [pbs] Cardamine californica

Colleen,

Considering the geographic and elevational range of Milkmaids it should be
at least as hardy as most cismontane brodiaeas. It grows in shady places in
woodlands or on rocky slopes. I have only grown it incidentally and it
seems
to benefit from some soil moisture while formant. The "tubers" are rather
deep (5-6" or more down). It is quite beautiful and unaccountably scarce in
cultivation.

Dylan
_______________________________________________
pbs mailing list
pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/

_______________________________________________
pbs mailing list
pbs@lists.ibiblio.org
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php
http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/

--
*L’aubepine en fleurs fut mon premier alphabet.* [The flowering hawthorn
was my first alphabet.] — Rene Char