Albuca clanwilliamae-gloria is found on deep sandy soils in fynbos in the northwestern Cape region of South Africa, near Clanwilliam. The name, which translates as "the glory of Clanwilliam", was given by Ute Müller-Doblies to exalt the area of Clanwilliam. It produces an inflorescence that is the largest within the genus. Plants grow to 2 m. This species seems to be tolerant of summer heat and grows well for gardeners in southern California and Arizona. Photo courtesy of Silverhill Seeds.
Leo Martin who raised these plants in Arizona offers the following advice, which works for him in his desert conditions: These have been some of the most neglect-tolerant of all bulbs I've raised from seed. I planted seed from Silverhill in February 2002 in builder's sand in a 20 ounce (550 ml) foam drinking cup. By spring 2008 they had burst the cup. They were the size of large Lachenalia bulbs. I stored them unpotted inside my house in a zip baggie with some sand. I forgot about them for 18 months, discovering and repotting them into their current container (18 x ~18 inches/46 cm) in fall 2009. Only two or three sprouted in 2009-2010, barely reaching 3 inches (7.5 cm) tall. In 2010-2011 they all returned, 2011-2012 they grew strongly, and this season (2013) they bloomed. No doubt with better care and faster potting on they would have flowered much sooner. Each growing season they have been outside in full sun, fully exposed. The first few summers I brought them into my house. Since moving to the large container in 2009, they have summered dry under my carport, where temperatures frequently exceed 110 Fahrenheit (43 °C). They have been completely undamaged by cold spells to the mid teens Fahrenheit /-9 °C overnight for 3 consecutive nights each in January 2007, December 2010 and January 2011 and six nights in a row in 2013.
See Microwaving Pollen to Overcome Self Incompatibility / Self Sterility.
Photos below were taken by Leo Martin of the first seedling bloom, April 2013 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA. Leo is 5'11" (180 cm) tall. They were beautifully upright until a windstorm and are tied together for the photo.
The photos below were taken by Nhu Nguyen of plants growing in the San Francisco Bay Area. These plants are temperamental where they may or may not break dormancy every year. Perhaps a warmer summer would be helpful.
