Category Archives: bulbs

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  Tulipa acuminata?

  Posted on May 5, 2017 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Good for cutting

  This has to be about the weirdest and most confusing yet appealing tulip going. Depending on your reference it is a synonym of T.gesneriana and yet no one seems to give it a cultivar or forma name unless it is T. ‘Cornuta’ as I have seen it listed. It is however most often listed as T. acuminata  even though it […]

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  Oxalis melanosticta

  Posted on March 31, 2017 by stephenryan in autumn colour, bulbs, Collector Plants, drought tolerant, Foliage plants, Ground cover, winter interest

  I love the autumn because the winter growing Oxalis suddenly start to erupt out of the ground and yes I know that includes the weedy ones but with so many species in the Genus (some hundreds apparently) they can’t all be weeds obviously. One of the early ones is this lovely yellow flowered African species […]

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  Allium siculum

  Posted on October 1, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Edible, Good for cutting, Insect attracting, self seeds

  This bulb has for a long time been excluded from the Onions into the much harder to spell Genus of Nectaroscordum but thank heaven it is back again! However no matter what it is called it is a fine addition to any garden. It grows during the late winter through the early spring and then […]

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  Ficaria verna ‘Aurantiaca Group’

  Posted on July 23, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Foliage plants, Ground cover, Perennials, self seeds, shade tolerant, winter interest

  This small winter growing tuberous perennial was until recently known as Ranunculus ficaria ‘Cupreus’ if you are wondering! It comes up with its green leaves that are marbled with grey and centrally blotched which bronze in mid winter and quite soon after it produces its soft orange buttercups that will continue to erupt until the first warm […]

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  Narcissus cyclamineus

  Posted on July 12, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Good for cutting, winter interest

  Of all the species daffodils this one has to be the most endearing. It has a long trumpet and completely reflexed petals that remind me of donkeys ears. It is a woodlander from Europe that is very rare in the wild and is equally as rare here as a garden plant due to the fact […]

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  Pancratium maritimum

  Posted on May 16, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, drought tolerant, Good Pot Plant

  This rarely offered bulb is a great thing for the water saver as it comes from coastal areas around the Mediterranean so obviously will do well in almost any sunny well drained site in southern Australia. If it does get some water it can be more or less evergreen but is quite happy having a […]

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  Tulbaghia cominsii

  Posted on April 6, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Edible, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant, Perennials

  This group of hardy perennials is well known for the mauve flowered species T. violacea commonly called society garlic even though its oniony flavour is perhaps marginally useful in cooking. The plant however is a good thing in the garden. Perhaps even less useful in the kitchen because of its tiny stature but none the […]

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  Narcissus ‘Angel’s Breath’

  Posted on March 28, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant, perfumed

  Spring might be a fair way away but don’t forget that if you want to enjoy spring you need to have the bulbs in! This tiny Narcissus triandrus hybrid bred by Rod Barwick in Tasmania has to be one of my best sellers each spring so you will probably miss out if you wait till […]

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  Watsonia aletroides

  Posted on March 14, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, drought tolerant, Good for cutting

  This has to be the most elegant species I have grown in this Genus of  hard to kill South African corms. It shows no sign of weediness with me and yet will grow in any well drained sunny site. It grows to about 30cms. tall with tubular coral flowers with a paler tip in late […]

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  Narcissus ‘Ben’Bler’

  Posted on January 29, 2015 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant

  I am part way through potting all my small bulbs for the year and for the first time I have a small amount of this stunning Hoop petticoat daffodil for sale. It was bred by Rod Barwick in Tasmania and it is a stunner. The flowers are huge compared to most in this group and […]

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