Subject: [pbs] Sternbergia

Antennaria@aol.com Antennaria@aol.com
Mon, 01 Sep 2003 18:41:31 PDT
Judy, et al,

 I grow two Sternbergia here in northern Massachusetts, out in the garden.  
Both are grown on small enbankments on the south (warm) side of the house in 
full sun, and flower beautifully.  Sternbergia lutea is growing in clay/loam 
amended with some sand, on the southerly facing base of a rose-of-sharon shrub 
(hibiscus syriacus cultivar). I plant bulbs around the bases of deciduous 
shrubs, with the theory that the shrub roots take up much of the summer moisture, 
allowing the bulbs to dry out properly. So far, this technique has worked very 
well. This Sternbergia species has handsome shiney green strap-like foliage 
that remain amazingly evergreen in spite of ice and snow through the winter. The 
late autumn flowers are glorious.  

Sternbergia fischeriana is a beautiful species.  Buds might show in very late 
autmun/early winter in mind autumns, but they don't open until early spring 
here.  The flowers are very large, and the glaucous foliage attractive and 
narcissus-like.  This species is grown in a very sandy soil amended with some leaf 
humus, and seems easy enough to grow.  Picture link at:

http://www.plantbuzz.com/Buzz/im_stern_id.htm

I'm north of you, so these should be doable in your climate.

Mark McDonough        Pepperell, Massachusetts, United States  
antennaria@aol.com    "New England"               USDA Zone 5
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