PBS Forum

Growing now in a warm climate (souther Oregon - average highs 95F day, 55F night), im having issues with Bessera elegans (may now be elegantissima) setting seed. Should note this is the purple form of Bessera. Last year when left outside, the flowers were gnarled and many lacked pollen and dormancy was pretty much complete by end of July. All attempted seed pods were aborted.

This year growing inside under lights with temperatures around 75-80F day and 65-70F night, flowers seem normal at large, pollen production seems normal, but seed pods appear to be dropping again as well. When I grew this species coastally, I never had issues setting seed. Anyone have experience of what Bessera prefers for flowering and seed setting?

Thanks!

Colin
Southern Oregon
Zone 8b

Lachenalia's have long been my passion - L. viridiflora being the first species that ignited a passion for SA bulbs. Turquoise is the rarest of all colors in the plant world, so naturally I was drawn to it. Being that the aloides clan has a great amount of diversity and largely bloom at the same time, they are ripe candidates for creating hybrids. In the following posts are two very stunning hybrids (in my opinion) worth mentioning, with vanzyliae as the parent. I have several clones of vanzyliae, the two below being the best. The one on the right is 'Davis HSC' - a darker, more saturated variant from UC Davis with strongly mottled foliage. The one on the left is what I call Lachenalia vanzyliae 'Galaxy', a rare variety from an famous botanic garden. This clone displays excellent coloration reminiscent of a galaxy: turquoise, green and violet/purple. Also shows strong mottling, with a beautiful purple shade to the leaves.

Colin

Blooming now is Babiana rubrocyanea, or Baboon Flower (probably the only species I grow that I actually know the common name lol). I don't feel this species receives enough attention - its easy, reliable and has stunning saturation. If you don't grow it, you should!

Colin

(and yes, real Baboon skull - even in death they plague the Babiana!)