bulbs | Stephen Ryan

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Category Archives: bulbs

Oxalis flava
Posted on July 6, 2018 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, winter interest
This complex species conglomerate consists of various coloured flower forms as well as different leaf types that are often so different from each other that it seems hard to reconcile them all as a single species when so many Galanthus as an example look so similar and yet are given species status. Be that as it may […]
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Tecophilaea cyanocrocus
Posted on July 17, 2017 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Good Pot Plant
One of the worlds most desirable bulbs and until recently thought extinct in the wilds of Chile its native home. It is a small bulb with possibly the worlds bluest flowers with its crocus like flowers in spring. It also has a form with a white centred flower called variety Leichtlinii both of which are […]
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Narcissus cyclamineus
Posted on July 8, 2017 by stephenryan in bulbs, Collector Plants, Good for cutting, Good Pot Plant, winter interest
This has to be one of the most beautiful species daffodils and rarely offered for sale in Australia. It is exceptionally slow to multiply and so is best raised from seed which needs to be hand pollinated to set. It usually takes at the least 3 years to reach flowering size and unlike other daffodils […]
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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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