Wachendorfia on the wiki

Mary Sue Ittner msittner@mcn.org
Sat, 04 Jun 2005 19:38:15 PDT
Hi,

John Bryan has often praised Wachendorfia thyrsiflora and I have wondered 
why as when I grew it I always thought it looked sick even when the ones I 
grew from seed attempted to bloom. The rhizomes were huge and it needed an 
enormous container so I eventually tossed my plants. When we were 
discussing our favorite yellow flowers, John wrote:
"Wachendorfia thyrsiflora, perhaps a little on the coarse side, but just 
saying the name is exciting, and when you see masses of these in flower you 
will never forget it.

A couple of weeks ago I toured a local garden when the gardener has planted 
it next to her pond and almost in the pond and it looks very fine 
indeed.  For anyone requesting seed from the BX last year, here's how to 
grow it.

http://pacificbulbsociety.org/pbswiki/index.php/…

It is interesting to note that in John's book and the Color Encyclopedia of 
Cape Bulbs they both note in the wild that this plant grows with 
Zantedeschia aethiopica. I mention this because the latter plant has 
naturalized in the area where I live, but somehow I suspect that wouldn't 
happen with Wachendorfia.

Mary Sue


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