Dear Chuck: Thanks for the news. If the plants do not get hit by early morning sun, then I have no doubt they can withstand 30f for a while, but no doubt it did not last long, given your location. In addition, I feel that while the thermometer indicated 30F, the tuber itself would have warmed the air a little, it having stored a certain amount of 'body heat' from previous days. I often feel we do not credit the potential of warmth eminating from such structures, and always wonder if the actual temperature experience by the plants is, in fact, that which is registered on the thermometer, often placed in the air at a distance from the actual plants. Cheers, John E. Bryan chuck Schwartz wrote: > > I beg to differ with you, John. I have had Pel's fulgida, radulifolia, > bowkeri, pulverulenta, and x ardense withstand 30 F for several nights. > Several of these never went dormant! I also have the same lack of success in > raising seedlings - they seem to like going completely dry between > waterings, and I want to nurture them. My favorite is P. radulifolia. It has > bloomed for 10 months straight and has been evergreen for the last 8 years. > Of course I live in coastal Southern California. > chuck Schwartz > > Dear Boyce: > > In the 2nd edition of BULBS I write about some 50 species with 8 or so > > being illustrated. Many can be grown in USDA Zone 9, with just a little > > protection, but most, if not all, will not stand frost and temperatures > > at night in the 40 F range are needed. Thus it should be possible for > > those who can provide some protection, to grow them. They are, in my > > opinion, quite beautiful and it is interesting to think about crossing > > some, especially the yellow species, with Pelargonium zonale or with Ivy > > Leaf species. The question of hardiness has not, to my knowledge, been > > factually established. I would not be surprised at all to find them > > hardier than supposed, but I would not think they would ever be hardier > > than, (or less hardy) than our common window box cultivars, which have > > survived many winters for me in San Francisco. Cheers, John E. Bryan > > > > Boyce Tankersley wrote: > > > > > > Dear David: > > > > > > This group of geophytes is absolutely new to me and I've read your > introduction with great interest. Great job! I don't suppose any of these > have been trialed for winter hardiness in the USA? > > > > > > Many thanks, > > > > > > Boyce Tankersley > > > btankers@chicagobotanic.org > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > pbs mailing list > > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > _______________________________________________ > > pbs mailing list > > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php > > _______________________________________________ > pbs mailing list > pbs@lists.ibiblio.org > http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/list.php