Instructions

Nerine is an extensive genus of bulbous, of the Amarilis family, which is native to Africa. Due to its bizarre, curved petals, the narine is called the "spider". The plant blooms in all shades of pink, there are flowers of white, crimson and red-orange colors. The flowering time is autumn, when there are already few flowers in the garden, and in the summer the bulb is dormant.

The beauty nerina is recommended to be planted in southern, well-lit areas. Watering is moderate, especially in the cool period, and after the leaves die off in early summer, it should be stopped completely before the start of the autumn growing season, so the place for nerina must be chosen in such a way that there are no plants near the flower that require abundant watering in summer.

This flower resembles a crocus, but unlike it, thin leaves appear along with flowers in the fall, and sometimes a flower appears first, and then leaves grow.

Sternbergia loves warm, sunny places. The flower is not frost-hardy, but it is quite possible to grow it in central Russia in open ground if the bulbs are covered with a thick layer of snow in winter, but it is best to dig them up and store them in a cool dry place.

The plant is called a rain lily. Zephyranthes' homeland is North and South America... The flowers are quite large in various shades of white and pink flowers... Like other exotic bulbous plants, it prefers to grow in a dry and hot place.

In this article it will be about rather rare bulbous plants, with which most of our gardeners are not yet familiar. Meanwhile, these flowers are distinguished by exotic beauty, unpretentious and will decorate any garden.

The plants listed below are great for container growing. The only difficulty is that all these bulbous flowers come from the tropics and cannot stand cold winters. In the open field all year round can only grow in the southern regions.

Where the winters are frosty, the bulbs are dug up and stored indoors until spring. Storage conditions are the same as for dahlias, gladioli. It is a bit of a hassle, but your garden, colored in the summer with all the colors of the rainbow of exotic flowers, will delight your neighbors and acquaintances.

The touching beauty of bulbous plants seems to have been created for romantic gardens ...

Along with lilies, tulips and daffodils, hyacinths, muscari and crocuses, irises, flowers that are completely inimitable in their form of flowering, almost fabulous, of rare beauty, are ranked in the "bulbous" class.

• Hymenocallis, or Ismene (Hymenocallis),
• Camassia blue "lily" (Camassia),
• Peruvian Pamianthe (Pamianthe peruviana),
• Peacock tigridia (Tigridia pavonia),
• Loose tritel (Brodiaea laxa),
• Uvularia grandiflora (Uvularia grandiflora), etc.

Rare representatives of onion rarities feel comfortable in the garden and as a pot culture. Next, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the description and photo of some types of flowers ...

(Tigridia pavonia) - known as a tiger iris with an unusual pattern, reaching half a meter in height. Up to six beautiful double-bowl emerges from each corm bright flower surrounded by three large red, white, yellow perianth petals. You can admire them for only 8 hours, opening in the first half of the day, but new buds bloom with enviable constancy for almost two months.

Tigridia is planted in April in a pot, transferring it to a flower garden only with the arrival of the June heat. In drought conditions, you will need to water more often. They are treated in the same way as with gladioli, digging up the corms in the fall after the leaves have completely yellowed, drying and storing. In regions with warm winter grown without digging.

Native South Africa... Belongs to the iris family. It blooms profusely with openwork star-shaped flowers of a wide variety of colors, up to 6 cm in diameter. Sparaxis look very impressive when they are planted. large groups- not less than 20 pieces in each. Loves nutrient soils, he needs a lot of sun, abundant watering.

Under such conditions given view sparaxis will bloom luxuriantly and actively multiply, forming many small bulbs. It can also be successfully propagated by seed.

Another representative of the iris family. Bright, fragrant freesia is great when cut; it stands in the water for a long time, filling the room with a wonderful aroma. Its delicate and delicate aroma is so pleasant that this flower has been used by perfumers for a long time. Flowers of a wide variety of colors, simple and double.

Unlike sparaxis, it does not like direct sun rays, so it will have to be planted in partial shade. The landing site should be protected from the wind, since the flower stalks with clusters of heavy buds are rather fragile and break easily from gusts of wind. Freesia needs frequent watering, but does not tolerate stagnant water in the soil. Propagated by onion babies and seeds, and the seedlings can bloom already in the year of sowing, by the fall.

Hymenokallis, or Ismene (Hymenocallis)- belongs to the Amaryllis family. The flowers are very unusual, a little like daffodils, but much more bizarre, original form... The bulbous plant is very beautiful, its name in Greek means "hymn to beauty".

It grows quickly, blooms profusely ( adult plant can throw 2-3 arrows with 6-8 flowers on each), so it needs to be changed fertile soils and regular feeding. The rest of the plant is very unpretentious, can tolerate drought, does not get sick. Each year, it produces many babies, which, after digging the bulbs, are carefully separated. Hymennokalis easily sets seeds, but after flowering, it is better to remove the peduncles so as not to deplete the flower.

Pamiant Peruvian(Pamianthe peruviana) from the Amarilis family has a lot in common with other bulbous plants. Strongly similar to ismen, eucharises and garden daffodils familiar to us, but differs in more impressive flower sizes, bulb shape and whimsical disposition. It is grown almost in the same way as hippeastrum, but it is more capricious.

A very rare plant in our family from the Amaryllis family. Mostly on sale you can see Tristagma uniflorum with pale blue flowers. Looks beautiful on the alpine slides. Feels good both in the sun and in partial shade.

Camassia- one of the most hardy bulbs of the Liliaceae family, unusual shape... The second name is the bow of the Indians. Candle inflorescences of star-shaped flowers on straight peduncles of a magnificent blue-violet palette with various nuances turn the blue lily into an original alternative to hyacinth. The flowers of this "lily" can be white, blue, bluish-lilac.

This rare flower able to reproduce by self-seeding and "run wild" if planted in a dry and brightly lit area. As a shelter for the winter, it is enough to make a thick layer of mulch.

This plant is familiar to many, belongs to the Amaryllis family. Loves bright light and sun, abundant watering. Looks most advantageous if landed in a group. The leaves are narrow, belt-shaped, the flowers are white, pink, yellow, reminiscent of large crocuses.

Exotic plants with unusual shapes and coloring are at the peak of their popularity today. There are rare amazing plants among the bulbous. Along with ordinary tulips and daffodils, muscari and crocuses, amazing, almost fabulous flowers that are completely inimitable in their flowering form and contours are ranked in the class of bulbous plants. Most of them are unfamiliar in our area, but they can be successfully grown both in a flower garden and as a pot culture. But, like all exotics, they need special care and very specific growth conditions. Let's take a closer look at the mysterious onion exotics.

The four main bulbous exotic species can boast of extraordinary flowering and striking forms - the snake, tigridia, sandersonia, and roscoia. Of these rare bulbous rarities in the open field, only tigridia are comfortable, but it is better to grow sandersonia and the snake as a pot culture. For the winter, these plants must be removed indoors.

Peacock tigridia (Tigridia pavonia), also known as pavonia or tiger iris, is a long-flowering plant, reaching about half a meter in height. Up to six beautiful double cup-shaped flowers emerge from each corm, surrounded by three large perianth petals. Tigridia is the brightest exotic with an unusual pattern. You can admire the beauty of each flower for just one day, but do not rush to get upset: all new buds will bloom with enviable constancy for almost two months under suitable conditions. Tigridia is planted in April in a pot, transferring to a flower garden only with the arrival of the June heat. If there is a drought, then the pavonia will have to be watered very often. They treat this exotic in the same way as with gladioli, digging up the corms in the fall after the leaves turn completely yellow and drying them for a month before being stored in sand or peat in a cool and dark room at a stable temperature of 5 to 10 ° C.

Sandersonia orange (Sandersonia aurantiaca) is often referred to as flashlights for amazing shape flowers, really reminiscent of Chinese paper lanterns, only in miniature. Unusual bright yellow or red flowers appear at the end of summer, rising to a height of about 70 cm. Lanterns are not entirely bulbous, because Sandersonia has specific long root tubers. The beautiful Sandersonia comes from South Africa and needs rather specific - hot - growing conditions.

Unimaginable flowers, reminiscent of cranes flying in the sky, can boast of the Radiator (Habenaria radiata), which is actually an orchid. Flock-like flowers exotic birds, rise on a low peduncle (about 30 cm). They served as a reason to give the leader a completely different "popular" name - the crane orchid. An exotic beauty grows only in slightly acidic fertile soil and in regions with harsh winters, it can only be grown as a potted crop. The leash, like the sandersonia, is also taken indoors for the winter, but it is provided with a warmer and brighter room than tigridia and, without taking it out of the pot, is actually grown as a houseplant.

Roscoe cautleyoides (Roscoea cautleyoides) is a kind of garden false orchid very similar to wild irises. Tuberous rhizome plant very easily adapts to growing conditions and is actively used as a flower bed in Europe. The flowering of roscoi usually begins in June and lasts about two months, but in order for the luxurious graceful flowers to bloom in sufficient quantities, the plant is dug out for the winter.

Only three bulbous exotics are capable of wintering in the open ground - the amazing Camassia, Uvularia and Tritelia, which, even far from their hot homeland, adapt well to new conditions. During mild winters, they grow rapidly and differ abundant flowering, with severe ones - they need additional shelter and, as a rule, bloom much less. During the winter, if there is little snow, you need to control the quality of the shelter and, if necessary, strengthen it.

Amazing loose sotsvteiya-candles from unique star-shaped flowers on straight peduncles are inherent in one of the most hardy bulbous unusual shape - Camassia. A gorgeous blue palette with a variety of nuances turns Camassia into an original alternative to hyacinth, especially since their leaves are very similar. This rare exotic able to reproduce by self-seeding and "run wild" if planted in a dry and brightly lit area. As a shelter for the winter, it is enough to make a thick layer of mulch.

Uvularia grandiflora (Uvularia grandiflora) is rightfully called the golden primrose. April - May amazing flowers with a golden hue, they amaze the imagination with pointed forms and graceful stems. Homeland of uvularia - North America and it is because of this that it can be grown outdoors with sufficient cover. An amazing primrose will bloom only when the bulbs are planted for distillation in February.

The blue palette is typical not only for Camassia, but also for those that form delightfully loose rugs, more reminiscent of the fancy "sea" of flowers Loose Tritelia (Brodiaea laxa). Delicate, bell-shaped flowers with divided petals are collected in amazing umbellate inflorescences, with each petal decorated with a darker stripe in the middle. Tritelia is very good as a balcony or indoor plant... In order to get a blooming riot, it is enough to land a tritel in flower pot with loose, enriched soil. If winters have little snow, then Tritelia loose is easier to grow as an annual, and not as a perennial.

Most amazing exotic plants release flower stalks only when it is warm, so they are first grown as a pot culture, dripping on a flower garden only at the time of flowering. In any case, exotic bulbs should be planted only in the foreground of the flower garden, where unusual flowering most comfortable to admire.

All thermophilic bulbous need special soil - loose, permeable and well warmed up by the sun. Exotic plants are rarely watered, preventing stagnation of water and rotting of the bulbs. Top dressing should also be applied quite rarely and in small portions, simply maintaining a constant nutrient content of the soil.

If you would like to grow something unusual and incredibly beautiful in your garden, we offer you exotic plants. Or you want to somehow surprise your neighbors, again, choose exotic. How to grow such plants, and what exactly to choose, we will tell you. Just keep in mind that most exotic plants do not hibernate outdoors.

Arum - an unusual exotic plant that looks very similar to calla. It attracts flower growers, first of all, for the decorative berries of a bright orange-red color, which appear in summer. Nowadays, this plant is very rare in our gardens and apartments. But in vain. Arum blooms in spring, mainly in April. The flowers are creamy white with a veil, about 15 cm high.At the end of summer, ears appear with seed pods, which, as the seeds ripen, change their color: from green to orange-red. Arum grows best in partial shade or in a sunny place, in fertile calcareous and well-drained soil. Withstands - 28.8 ° C frost.

Tigridia. It is a bulbous plant with a height of 30 to 70 cm. Its flowers are very bright (red, yellow, white, pink), with a beautiful tiger center with a dark speck. The flowers are of an original form and resemble rare tropical butterflies. You can start planting bulbs in the garden only when stable warm weather is established. This, depending on the region, is the second - third decade of May. Bulbs germinate only when the soil temperature warms up to 18 - 22 ° C. Plant your tigridia in open, sunny areas. Tigrid tubers are not adapted to our winters. They need to be dug out after the death of the aboveground part. Dig up very carefully as they are easily injured and may rot. Dry the bulbs in the room for a month. Then place them in boxes with peat or sand and transfer them to a cool, frost-free room (at a temperature of 5 - 7 ° C) or in the lower basket of the refrigerator. It is impossible to store the bulbs in their pure form (without peat), as they quickly dry out and die.

Ixia ... It is better to plant the bulbs first in germination pots, in March-April. How to establish stable warm weather (second decade of May) - in open ground. Ixia prefer nutritious, neutral soil, containing a large number sand. Prepare potting soil from turf land, coarse sand and peat. Corms are planted in the soil to a depth of 5 cm, at a distance of 3-4 cm from each other. After planting, the soil is mulched (mulch thickness 2-3 cm). In the open field, Ixia grows in a sunny, windless place. Ixia can be grown in containers, garden vases, or regular pots. Just don't forget about the thick drainage layer. These bulbous plants are extremely decorative and unpretentious. They grow easily outdoors and in containers. Even novice florists can be advised to start them.

Nerina. A plant that will take your breath away, especially on a dull autumn day. It will certainly be the most exotic among the autumn flowering plants. Numerous pink flowers collected in umbellate inflorescences, 5-12 pcs. The flower size is 6-8 cm in diameter. The flowers exude a faint musky scent. You can admire the flowering of nerine in the garden from September to early November, at a time when many plants have already faded. Umbellate inflorescences rise on a leafless peduncle, 30 cm-50 cm high. Leaves appear later, after flowering (and can survive the winter without being damaged). They are narrow, belt-like, linear, glossy, up to 30 cm long. Due to the abundance of leaves, nerine looks good even after flowering. Although flowers and leaves can appear at the same time. For the winter, you need to transplant nerine into pots and keep them in a bright room at a temperature of 8-10 ° C. In winter, until spring, leaves continue to grow and flower buds are laid. In the spring (usually in May), the leaves turn yellow and die off, the plant prepares for a dormant period.

Liatris. Special attention deserves Liatris spicate. It is a perennial rhizome plant with a height of just over half a meter. Its rhizomes sometimes resemble a bulb. The flowers of Liatris are small, collected in beautiful, showy spike-shaped inflorescences. Plant lyatrixes in groups on the lawn, in mixborders in the center of the flower beds, such group plantings attract the attention of everyone passing by. It can also be planted in single plantings - it looks like a lighted candle in white or purple - but looks better in groups. Liatrix bloom for a long time, from July to September, for about forty days. But the most unusual thing is that the flowers bloom from top to bottom, as if going down the peduncle, and not vice versa, like other spike-shaped perennials that bloom from bottom to top. It is very easy to grow Liatris. Give him a warm, sunny place, with fertile and light soil, without stagnant water and close standing groundwater... Liatrice never get sick, they can suffer from mice, which love to feast on their rhizomes in snowy winters. Plants are hardy enough, so no need to cover for the winter.

Ranunculus or buttercups. Colorful flowers of Asiatic buttercup will be a wonderful decoration of flower beds, rabatki and borders. These plants will delight you with their flowers throughout the season if you plant them in the right place. When creating live borders, use multi-colored buttercups. Buttercup root cones cannot withstand frost, so dig them up for the winter, and plant them again in the spring. Buttercup grows and develops better in sunny areas, but blooms longer in semi-shady places. The place where buttercups will be planted should be protected from wind, drafts and late frosts. The soil is moderately moist, in waterlogged soil, the tubers are loaded with fungi and rot. They prefer slightly acidic (pH 5.5-6.4) and nutritious (rich in humus), permeable, loose and light soil. We recommend using drainage at the bottom of the planting hole, sand or chips. As soon as the plants germinate, loosen the soil and remove weeds in a timely manner. Dig up the tubers after the leaves die off, in August - September, dry, cover with sawdust, moss, fine sand or peat, and store in this form until spring.

Sparaxis. Corm, plant. It has adorable flowers that are painted with all the colors of the rainbow. Plant them in open ground only after the threat of return frosts has passed. That is, not earlier than the second half of May (for our area). Give your plants a sunny, warm, draft-free location. The soil should be nutritious, well-drained, without moisture stagnation. Before planting, add compost and coarse river sand to the soil. Plants planted in the months of May will bloom in August and will bloom for a month. Dig up the corms before the onset of frost (late September - early October), in sunny, dry weather. Place clean, dried corms in boxes or carton boxes, sprinkle with dry peat or sawdust and store in a dark, well-ventilated room with a temperature of 7-10 ° C.

Such extraordinary will help to transform your garden. beautiful plants like alstroemeria, knifofia, agapanthus, cannes, crocosmia, licoris.

Delivery of exotic bulbous plants in Ukraine (Kiev, Donetsk, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kremenchug, Ternopil, Uzhgorod, Krivoy Rog, Lugansk, Odessa, Kherson, Sumy, Chernigov, Chernivtsi, Lviv, Poltava, Lutsk, Kirovograd, Cherkasy, Khmelnitsky, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Vinnytsia, Zhitomir, Nikolaev, Rovno, Yalta, Melitopol, Belaya Tserkov).

Gladioli, lilies, dahlias, begonias ... These flowers can be found in almost any garden, and with the onset of spring, the soul often asks for something unusual and exclusive. Something that no one of the acquaintances has! Some kind of miraculous flower that boggles the imagination! Well, let's look for this unusual among huge assortment plants, the bulbs of which can be bought now in flower shops.

Let's talk exclusively about those exotic bulbous and corms that are planted in the spring (mainly in May). Most of them either require compulsory digging for the winter, or, in extreme cases, they can overwinter under cover.
Wintering issue in conditions middle lane- this is perhaps the most controversial problem for lovers of all kinds of exotic bulbous. Alas, numerous reference books and magazines give sometimes mutually exclusive recommendations about this. Information on packages with bulbs often does not stand up to criticism at all, and it makes sense to rely on qualified help from a seller in a store in about one case in a hundred. In the remaining ninety-nine cases, the seller's knowledge of floriculture is limited to the ability to read what is written on this very package, and then honestly retell it to you.
What to do? There is only one advice - just in case, dig up all the bulbs in the fall, the winter hardiness of which makes you suspicious. True, this does not guarantee against failure, because digging up is one thing, but keeping it until spring and making exotic bulbs bloom again is a completely different matter. These are not the usual gladioli, dahlias and begonias that winter well in the basement or on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator! Here everything is more complicated: some bulbs prefer room temperature during wintering, some require mandatory maintenance in peat or sand, etc.

If you still decide to take the risk and leave the bulbs exotic plant for wintering in the ground, you should know a few "tricks". The main thing, from which overly sensitive bulbous plants most often die, is not frost at all, but stagnation of water in the soil (in autumn or spring). Therefore, first of all, you need to provide the bulbs with good drainage (especially if you have clay soil). This means that, firstly, such plants should be planted in the driest places of the site, where water does not stagnate in spring. Secondly, if the soil in your garden is heavy, then it is better to plant capricious bulbous bulbs like this: dig the planting hole 10-15 cm deeper than you are going to plant the bulbs, pour a mixture of compost with peat and sand on its bottom, then plant the bulbs, slightly sprinkle them with sand, and then cover them with loose permeable soil.

Now let's talk about what troubles lie ahead with exotic bulbs, what are their care requirements. The assortment of bulbs in flower shops and garden centers is now so extensive that flower lovers (especially beginners) simply dazzle. And if a "qualified" seller assures that the flower you like is extremely unpretentious and winters well in our conditions, many buy its bulbs without hesitation. But it may turn out to be a sissy that needs to be grown almost under a hood!

The most famous representatives of this family are irises and gladioli. Today we will talk about their lesser-known relatives, which can grow beautifully not only outdoors, but also in large pots somewhere on a sunny veranda or balcony.
Just be careful with their young shoots! If there is a danger of spring frosts, it is better to cover them. But if acidantera, crocosmia and glamini can survive a temperature of -1 degrees without any significant losses, then the rest of the representatives of this family described here will react extremely negatively even to zero degrees.

This closest relative of gladioli can often be found under the name " fragrant gladiolus". Acidantera is much less flamboyant and pompous than its popular cousin, but at the same time much more sophisticated and refined. But acidantera is unlikely to appeal to fans of bright colors, since there is only white.

Unlike gladioli, acidantera does well without any supports and does not even lie down from strong wind and rain. But as for her aroma, unfortunately, you can feel it only by leaning towards the flower itself.
The ideal time for planting acidants is from late April to late May. But it is better to do this as soon as possible, since late-planted plants may not have time to bloom in cold and wet summers. Many reference books advise, almost at the beginning of April, planting acidander bulbs in small pots and growing seedlings on the windowsill, planting them in the ground only at the beginning of June. Like, without this, the acidantera will not have enough heat and it will not bloom! Maybe somewhere in the north this is justified, but in the Moscow region the acidantera blooms beautifully without such difficulties.
Dig the acidantera bulbs at the end of September, dry well. They are stored in winter (attention !!!) at room temperature (about 18-20 degrees). Do not store acidantera in the refrigerator along with gladioli in winter: exposure of acidantera bulbs to low temperatures can lead to the fact that they will not bloom next summer.

Crocosmia (montbrecia)

The people call this flower "Japanese gladiolus". Crocosmia is quite popular, and it would be a stretch to attribute it to exotic. Perhaps, the numerous varieties of montbrecia that appeared on Russian market recently.

Strictly speaking, crocosmia is wild plant, and montbrecia is a cultural form derived from it. However, any of these names can be found on the packaging of the bulbs.

Traditionally, small-flowered orange crocosmia is grown in our gardens. But now on sale you can find a large-flowered or small-flowered mixture of montbrecia with orange, red and yellow flowers... Somewhat less often, the bulbs of the species orange-red crocosmia Mason are found in stores.

Of the varieties of montbrecia in stores, the more common the bright red variety "Lucifer", much less often - the yellow "Jenny Bloom". The rest of the varieties described in reference books and magazines can be found on sale only if you are very lucky.
By my own experience I can say that, unfortunately, purchased montbrecia bulbs often turn out to be clearly overdried (especially for smaller corms) and absolutely not viable. Sometimes only 3-4 germinates from a package (10 pcs.) Of purchased montbrecia bulbs. Therefore, when buying, choose montbrecia bulbs very carefully and be sure to store them in the refrigerator before planting. It is better to plant crocosmia as early as possible (from mid-April to mid-May).
The most difficult question is the ability of the montbrecia to winter in our open field. My experience has shown that in a warm snowy winter with good drainage and under cover of leaves and spruce branches, there are no problems with the wintering of corms. If at least one of these three conditions is absent, problems are possible with the wintering of montbrecia.

Crocosmia Mason, as well as small-flowered mixtures and the "Lucifer" variety, are distinguished by the greatest frost resistance. It is believed that the variety "Jenny Bloom" also tolerates our winter well (I have no such experience). But large-flowered mixtures montbrecia are not too adapted for wintering in such harsh conditions, and therefore they will certainly freeze out. In general, with regard to crocosmia, there is a rule: the larger the flowers, the less winter hardiness of the plant. In addition, it is worth knowing that the most careful attention should be paid to the bulbs wintering for the first time. In the future, they adapt to our harsh winters much better and will no longer require such an impressive shelter.
But if you still do not want to risk it, then it is better to dig up the crocosmia bulbs in late September and early October, dry them a little and store them in the lower shelf of the refrigerator in winter. Here, however, another rule comes into force: the smaller the montbrecia bulbs, the more likely they will not survive until spring - they will dry out.

In Russia, glamine is a novelty that will surely win over many fans. In stores, you can find both individual glamini varieties and a mixture of varieties.

Glamini is a familiar gladiolus, but much smaller, ideal for growing in pots (for example, on a balcony). In Europe, the fashion for miniature gladioli has been flourishing for a long time, but in Russia giant gladioli with huge corrugated flowers enjoy traditional love. Perhaps, a little glamini with a height of only 50 cm will be able to "break" this tradition for at least two reasons. First, mini gladioli bloom much earlier than giants. Secondly, glamines practically do not require any supports and garters (and tall powerful gladioli otherwise bend or lie down).

The optimal time for planting glamini is from late April to late May.
Naturally, thermophilic glamines, like the gladioli we are used to, require compulsory digging for the winter and storage on the lower shelf of the refrigerator.

But do not confuse glamini with some other miniature gladioli (for example, from the Colville group), which can hibernate outdoors under good cover. With glamini bulbs overwintering, there are no alternatives to the refrigerator.

Babiana

Do you know where Babiana has such an unusual name? It's just that in her homeland, in South Africa, baboons are very fond of babiana bulbs.
This crumb with purple, pink and lilac flowers reaches a height of no more than 20 cm. Only a mixture of its varieties can be found on sale.

Babiana is a wonderful plant for alpine slide or a small container; a group of several plants looks better. Its bulbs are planted from late April to mid-May, in the sunniest and most windless place in the garden. Babiana blooms for about three weeks, in August-September.

I have come across information that in mild winters, with good shelter, a babiana can withstand frosts in the open ground near Moscow. But the chances that she will overwinter are minimal. So it is better to dig up the babiana bulbs at the end of September-October and store them in the refrigerator until spring, sprinkle with peat so that they do not dry out.

This is another charming South African plant with multi-colored spike-shaped inflorescences. Ixia also looks great in a rock garden or in a container when planted in a large group. To speed up the flowering of ixia, it is better not to delay planting the bulbs, choosing a sunny place for this plant. Ixia blooms in August and early September. Ixia has no chances to survive our winter in the ground, so in September its bulbs are dug up and put into the refrigerator.

This native of South Africa is even more miniature, and at the same time more finicky. In a cold summer, and even being in an insufficiently sunny place, sparaxis may not bloom. V favorable conditions it will delight you with its flowering in August (provided that the bulbs are planted no later than mid-May).
Sparaxis is also an ideal plant for a rock garden or container. It is better to plant its bulbs in groups of 20-30.

In the fall, sparaxis bulbs should be treated in the same way as with ixia and babiana.

Homeria

This delicate plant blooming in August, also native to South Africa. However, Homeria is not so miniature: it can reach a height of 45 cm, and its flowers are somewhat larger. The color of its flowers is usually yellow or salmon. Conditions, boarding times and conditions winter storage homerias are the same as those of the plants described above.

If you prefer more large flowers(compared to those listed above) - plant a tigridia. Tigridia flowers reach 10-15 cm in diameter and look like bright spotted tropical butterflies. True, tigridia has one drawback - the flowering of each flower lasts only one day. But on each peduncle there are usually at least 3-4 flowers, and each bulb also has about the same number of peduncles. Thus, each tigridia bulb blooms for two weeks, and a group of 30-40 bulbs can delight you for about a month and a half (usually starting from the end of July).
Like all of the plants listed above, tigridia is effective only in group plantings.

I have never met individual varieties of tigridia in our stores - they sell only mixtures with white, pink, yellow and red flowers.
Tigridia bulbs are planted in the sunniest place. These plants cannot stand frost, so it is better not to rush to plant them. Mid May - optimal time for planting tigridia.
Tigridia cannot winter in the soil categorically, therefore, in the fall, their bulbs must be dug up and stored in the refrigerator. It is better to store them in peat, since the bulbs of tigridia are small and dry out easily.

To be continued…

Elena Chernysheva
..... www.beautytime.ru

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