Cardamine californica

Hannon othonna@gmail.com
Fri, 05 Apr 2013 12:49:50 PDT
Colleen,

I've never seen it offered anywhere, alas. Wild populations should not be
difficult to find but timing must be good to catch them with ripe fruits.
They do "explode" as Nhu mentions so must be collected just before
dehiscence or shaken into a bag when they are just ready to open. It should
not be difficult to grow from seed allowing for them to be left undisturbed
the first few seasons because of their depth.

Glenn Keator (Guide to Native Perennials of California, 1990) mentions C.
(Dentaria) californica as a good companion for Dodecatheon, Ranunculus
californica and other early bulbs. Depending on the population, flowering
can extend into April. This book also mentions D. pachystigma and D.
gemmata, montane species that need summer moisture. Both sound very
attractive.

Dylan

On 5 April 2013 11:39, Colleen <silkie@frontiernet.net> wrote:

> Thanks Dylan,
>
> Since the tubers grow 5-6 inches down I would think they could withstand
> cooler temps, but in researching them I only find mention of their growing
> in the milder, coastal locations.  I wonder where I might find some to try?
>
> Colleen
> NE Calif
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]
> On Behalf Of Hannon
> Sent: Friday, April 05, 2013 10:00 AM
> To: Pacific Bulb Society
> Subject: Re: [pbs] Cardamine californica
>
> Colleen,
>
> Considering the geographic and elevational range of Milkmaids it should be
> at least as hardy as most cismontane brodiaeas. It grows in shady places in
> woodlands or on rocky slopes. I have only grown it incidentally and it
> seems
> to benefit from some soil moisture while formant. The "tubers" are rather
> deep (5-6" or more down). It is quite beautiful and unaccountably scarce in
> cultivation.
>
> Dylan
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-- 
*L’aubepine en fleurs fut mon premier alphabet.* [The flowering hawthorn
was my first alphabet.] — Rene Char



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