PBS Forum

Dear Members living in the EU

The second round of this year's spring exchange is now open for orders. The time window for ordering will close on Monday, April 21st at 24:00 Central European Time.
Every fully paid member of the PBS with a postal address in the EU can order from the seeds and bulbs on offer. You do not need to be a donor to be entitled to order. There is no limit of how many positions from the list you can request, but you are only allocated one portion of each item. Please refrain from ordering "one of each" of the offerings. If you are not yet a member you can still join if you are tempted....

Please send your request by e-mail directly to Martin Bohnet, who is the director of the EU Bulb and Seed Exchange. Please do NOT send your request to the forum or the email list, these requests cannot be served. Please make sure you do not use the reply button when sending your request.

Martin's e-mail: garak@code-garak.de
PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS WITH YOUR ORDER; IT SAVES MARTIN A LOT OF CORRESPONDENCE IF YOU DO.......
Orders will be accepted during the time window after the list went online, closure will be announced in the forum. Distribution will then be at random so that everybody has the same chance to get the rare items in short supply.


Each portion of seed will be charged 2 US $, each portion of bulbs will be 3 US $. For very big/heavy/rare bulbs this may be doubled. Postage will be added at cost, converted into US $. Please let Martin know if you wish your order to be sent by trackable mail. This might make sense especially to Southern European Countries. We have experienced considerable delays in the past.

Payment for items from the EU-BX can only be made by PayPal in US Dollars to the PayPal account of the Pacific Bulb Society. Martin has created a very comfortable way of paying for your orders by using a QR-code on the payment slip. Just scan the code and the rest is super easy.
If you prefer to do it manually:

Please make sure that the PBS receives the amount due in US Dollars. Please go to the bottom of the Bulb Exchange page and fill in the details and continue. It guides you directly on to your PayPal account. No cheques or credit cards can be accepted. Enclosed in the order, every recipient will receive a payment slip showing the details, please wait with any payment until you have received your order. Again, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Uli Urban:johannes-ulrich-urban@t-online.de



Here are our new offers:

from Martin Bohnet: Bulbs

EX10_360 Amorphophallus myosuroides

Height:	10-30 cm (0.3-1 ft)
Flower Colors:	white
Special:	attractive foliage
Life form:	tuber

EX10_361 Arisaema candidissima
EX10_362 Arisaema consanguineum

EX10_363 Bomarea edulis

EX10_364 Helianthus tuberosus

Height:	150-300 cm (4.9-9.8 ft)
Flower Colors:	yellow
Flower Season:	mid autumn to late autumn
Special:	edible storage organ
Life form:	deciduous tuber

EX10_365 Nerine masoniorum

(evergreen-ish)

and seeds:

EX10_366 Clivia caulescens

from Roland Ludwig: Bulbs

EX10_367 Amorphophallus fuscus,  ex Jungle Leaves
EX10_368 Amorphophallus henryi

Life form:

tuber

,  ex De Hessenhof
EX10_369 Gladiolus dalenii ,Boone'
EX10_370 Gladiolus saundersii

Flower Colors:	red
Climate:	summer rain climate

, bulbils,ex Aleksandr Naumenko
EX10_371 Habranthus robustus ,Russell Manning'
EX10_372 Habranthus robustus

var. biflorus,seed ex PBS EX01_097 (Uli Urban)
EX10_373 Ismene longipetala

, ex Samen Dietzel
EX10_374 Ismene x deflexa (= Hymenocallis x festalis)
EX10_375 Oxalis inops (=. O. Depressa) ex Stauden Poltermann
EX10_376 Seemannia ,Evita'

and seed:

EX10_377 Arisaema stewardsonii
EX10_378 Iris trojana ex Aleksandr Naumenko

from Angelika Neitzert: Bulbs

EX10_379 Cyrtanthus spec. Bulbils
EX10_380 Hippeastrum papilio

ex Urban
EX10_381 Ornithogalum sardieni

and seed:

EX10_382 Hippeastrum Fluwel 98312-B x Exotic Star
EX10_383 Massonia depressa

from Åke Nordström: Bulbs

EX10_384 Alstroemeria psittacina

EX10_385 Amorphophallus konjac

Flower Colors:	black
Flower Season:	mid spring
Special:	edible storage organ
Life form:	tuber

EX10_386 Haemanthus albiflos

EX10_387 Neomarica northiana

and seed

EX10_388 Clivia miniata

from Uli Urban: Bulbs

EX10_389 Achimenes dulcis

Flower Colors:	white, yellow
Special:	fragrant
Life form:	rhizome
Climate:	summer rain climate

EX10_390 Achimenes grandiflora

Flower Colors:	purple
Life form:	rhizome
Climate:	summer rain climate

EX10_391 Achimenes heterophylla
EX10_392 Achimenes 'Pulcherrima'
EX10_393 Achimenes 'Tetra Verschafffelt'
EX10_394 Amorphophallus atroviridis
EX10_395 Cyrtanthus montanus

, Bulbili
EX10_396 Eucodonia 'Maike'
EX10_397 Eucodonia spec.
EX10_398 Gladiolus dalenii 'Boone'
EX10_399 X Gloximannia 'She's Dancing'
EX10_400 Kohleria 'Strawberry Fields'
EX10_401 Oxalis triangularis

Red Leaf
EX10_402 Seemannia gymnostoma
EX10_403 Seemannia nematanthodes
EX10_404 Seemannia purpurascens
EX10_405 Smithiantha 'Sunset'
EX10_406 Smithiantha cinnabarina

EX10_407 X Smithicodonia 'Heartland's Joy'
EX10_408 X Smithicodonia 'Ohio's Punkin'
EX10_409 X Smithicodonia 'RF's Grandiosa'
EX10_410 Solanum jamesii

and seed:

EX10_411 Haemanthus albiflos

tall form

from Aad van Beek (bulbs):

EX10_412 Amarcrinum 'Chapeau'

from Cathy Osselton (seeds) late addendum due to postal delay

EX10_413 Gladiolus elliotti
EX10_414 Gladiolus splendens

Flower Colors:	red
Climate:	winter rain climate

The following items are left over from the first part of this spring exchange and are still at full price (!)

Bulbs:

EX10_002 Dioscorea polystachia bulbils

and seed:

EX10_006 Beschorneria septentrionalis
EX10_008 Cardiocrinum giganteum

EX10_009 Gladiolus murielae

Flower Colors:	white
Special:	fragrant
Climate:	summer rain climate

EX10_010 Albuca setosa

Flower Colors:	white, green, brown, yellow
Life form:	bulb

EX10_011 Allium gooddingii

EX10_013 Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer'
EX10_015 Dietes iridioides

EX10_018 Eucomis zambesiaca

EX10_019 Freesia laxa

EX10_021 Galtonia saundersiae
EX10_022 Galtonia viridiflora

EX10_025 Iris domestica Syn. Belamcanda sinensis
EX10_030 Zephyranthes primulina

EX10_031 Allium acuminatum

Flower Colors:	pink, purple
Flower Season:	late spring to early summer

EX10_032 Allium akaka
EX10_033 Allium amphibolum

Height:	20-30 cm (0.7-1 ft)
Flower Colors:	pink, purple

EX10_034 Allium caspium
EX10_035 Allium dzhungaricum
EX10_036 Allium maniaticum
EX10_037 Allium nevskianum

Flower Colors:

purple

EX10_038 Allium protensum
EX10_040 Babiana stricta

EX10_041 Babiana vanzijliae

EX10_042 Belamcanda chinensis (= Iris domestica)
EX10_043 Bellevalia dubia

EX10_044 Bellevalia dubia

subsp. boissieri
EX10_045 Bellevalia flexuosa

EX10_046 Bellevalia tauri
EX10_047 Cyclamen graecum

EX10_048 Cyclamen graecum

f. album
EX10_049 Dierama pauciflorum

EX10_050 Dietes grandiflora

EX10_051 Dietes iridioides

EX10_052 Fritillaria bithynica

EX10_053 Hyacinthoides reverchonii

EX10_054 Iris stolonifera

forms and hybrids with I. hoogiana (Iris Regelia Hybrids)
EX10_055 Muscari kerkis
EX10_057 Muscari massayanum

pinkish
EX10_058 Nectaroscilla hyacinthoides

EX10_059 Paeonia broteroi

EX10_060 Paeonia cambessedesii

EX10_061 Paeonia caucasica
EX10_062 Paeonia clusii

EX10_065 Paeonia rhodia hybrid pink flowers
EX10_067 Romulea clusiana

EX10_068 Romulea ramiflora

ex Spain, Mallorca
EX10_069 Romulea ramiflora

ex Golan heights
EX10_071 Romulea  rollii
EX10_072 Tulipa clusiana

var. cashmeriana
EX10_073 Tulipa wilsoniana var. flava
EX10_076 Araujia sericifera
EX10_077 Asclepias curassavica
EX10_078 Clitoria ternatea alba
EX10_079 Gloriosa modesta

EX10_080 Oxypetalum coeruleum
EX10_081 Philibertia gracilis
EX10_082 Cyclamen cyprium

EX10_083 Cyclamen cyprium

ES-strain
EX10_084 Cyclamen graecum

EX10_086 Ornithogalum anguinum
EX10_088 Albuca pulchra

EX10_089 Albuca abyssinca, syn angolensis
EX10_090 Aristolochia gigantea
EX10_092 Canna paniculata
EX10_093 Gladiolus dalenii

Flower Colors:	red, yellow, green, patterned
Climate:	summer rain climate

EX10_094 Lilium formosanum

tall form
EX10_095 Lilium leucanthemum centifolium
EX10_096 Lilium pumilum

EX10_099 Neomarica northiana

Leftovers from Fall Exchange EX09, 1$ each:

EX09_008 Freesia laxa

EX09_012 Ipomoea pubescens

Height:	150-250 cm (4.9-8.2 ft)
Flower Colors:	purple
Special:	climber
Life form:	tuber

EX09_013 Moraea ochroleuca

aurantica
EX09_015 Moraea vegeta

EX09_022 Allium crenulatum

EX09_023 Allium unifolium

EX09_025 Drimia uniflora

EX09_040 Gladiolus dalenii ,Boone'
EX09_045 Chasmanthe floribunda

EX09_073 Acis nicaeensis

Height:	10-20 cm (3.9-7.9 inch)
Flower Colors:	white
Flower Season:	mid spring

 
EX09_074 Allium shelkovnikovii 
EX09_083 Leopoldia caucasica JJA 688.600
EX09_086 Pseudomuscari chalusicum

JJA 690.700
EX09_089 Albuca rupestris
EX09_090 Albuca shawii

Flower Colors:

yellow

EX09_091 Drimia platyphylla

EX09_135 Gladiolus imbricatus

Flower Colors:

purple

EX09_504 Codonopsis pilosula

EX09_506 Ipomopsis rubra (not a geophyte)
EX09_507 Liatris spicata

Height:	60-100 cm (2-3.3 ft)
Flower Colors:	purple
Flower Season:	mid summer
Life form:	corm

floristean white OP
EX09_509 Platycodon grandiflorus

(white and blue parents)
EX09_557 Artemisia assoana
EX09_558 Asphodelus ayardii
EX09_561 Gadoria falukei
EX09_563 Moraea sisyrinchium

ex Engomi, Cyprus
EX09_564 Muscari massayanum

ex Aladaglar Seisums 012-039
EX09_565 Plantago subulata
EX09_566 Romulea spec. Azrou, Morocco
EX09_577 Iris crocea OP
EX09_578 Iris spuria 'Imperial Bronze' OP
EX09_579 Zephyranthes tubispatha syn Habranthus tubispathus
EX09_583 Zephyranthes minima

EX09_589 Gladiolus alatus

Flower Colors:	orange, white, yellow
Life form:	corm
Climate:	winter rain climate

EX09_590 Gladiolus aureus

Flower Colors:	yellow
Climate:	winter rain climate

EX09_591 Gladiolus carneus

Flower Colors:	pink
Flower Season:	late spring
Life form:	corm
Climate:	winter rain climate

EX09_592 Gladiolus priorii

Flower Colors:	red
Life form:	corm
Climate:	winter rain climate

EX09_593 Gladiolus virescens

Flower Colors:	yellow, pink
Flower Season:	early spring

var virescens
EX09_595 Iris orientalis

white heirloom
EX09_596 Iris spuria

brown cultivar
EX09_597 Scilla hyacinthoides

tall form
EX09_612 Galtonia sp. aff. viridiflora
EX09_613 Talinum paniculatum
EX09_615 Tulipa bifloriformis

ex Augis Bulbs
EX09_616 Tulipa binutans ex Augis Bulbs

and finally: Leftovers from last spring exchange EX08, last time offering, 1$ each

EX08_012 Eucomis zambesiaca

EX08_016 Albuca setosa

Flower Colors:	white, green, brown, yellow
Life form:	bulb

EX08_017 Allium cernuum

Flower Colors:	pink, white
Flower Season:	early summer to mid summer

EX08_019 Allium nutans

EX08_020 Barnardia japonica

EX08_021 Galtonia viridiflora

EX08_023 Hesperantha baurii

EX08_025 Iris domestica
EX08_027 Sisyrinchium angustifolium
EX08_034 Crocosmia mix of ,Anna Marie' and ,Yellow Emberglow
EX08_040 Albuca pulchra

EX08_041 Albuca spec Grahamstown
EX08_048 Datura wrightii
EX08_049 Ennealophus fimbriatus

EX08_051 Iris laevigata

dark purple
EX08_052 Lilium longiflorum

Hyb. ,,white triumphator"
EX08_053 Lilium philippinense

EX08_054 Lilium pumilum

EX08_058 Habranthus robustus

EX08_060 Silene undulata (syn. capensis)
EX08_061 Zephyranthes primulina

EX08_303 Freesia laxa

EX08_304 Gladiolus x hortulanus cultivar mix incl. ,,Espresso"

Happy Easter and happy growing!

Uli and Martin

Quote from: CG100 on April 17, 2025, 12:54:14 AMMaybe Amarllis are particularly suscptable to virus?
I had one from a commercial seller, so it could have been produced almost anywhere, that hung on for a few years, but was obviously virussed.

I didn't found anything about them online, only about Hippeastrum, but though as hardy as a weed, they're a challenging species to flower outside of mild winter and dry summer climates, so they're not a common comercial or even kept plant in other places, likely is that the reason.
Though a very similar plant to Hippeastrum, Amaryllis seeds don't dry and must be sown in autumn after flowering time, they don't grow well in warm greenhouse conditions I think, they take longer than Hippeastrum to flower from seed.. even here in a perfect climate for them and being a common plant they're almost always propagated from offset bulbs rather than seed. Seedlings don't sprout far from mother plants, and if weeds don't choke them, at weeding they're done as they look like grass. If bulbs ever get viruses they just get spread away with virus I think. However the sames apllies to several other species and they rarely show virus...

Quote from: CG100 on April 17, 2025, 12:54:14 AMThey are a house or greenhouse plant here, so the option to have large numbers does not really exist, but I have some new imports from RSA and also what should be a white - all unflowered thus far. It should be white - the supplier was a small UK nursery and it was their last year in active business, and some labels had got dislodged from pots, so they were only pretty sure that is what they sent. It has leaves far paler than bulbs with the usual pink flowers - bright lime green, so I will be extremely surprised if it does not flower white.

Only time will say... I think that with enough sun in winter and dryish warm condition in summer that allow bulbs to bake a little they will do fine in pots. 
After pulling these days so many of them I actually got somewhat surprised about their roots, I thought they had a much bigger and deeper root system like agapanthus. I usually moved them like small bushes without much root disturbance and they still refused to flower that year or even delayed foliage growth often.
Indestructible but finicky to flower things.

Maybe Amarllis are particularly suscptable to virus?
I had one from a commercial seller, so it could have been produced almost anywhere, that hung on for a few years, but was obviously virussed.

They are a house or greenhouse plant here, so the option to have large numbers does not really exist, but I have some new imports from RSA and also what should be a white - all unflowered thus far. It should be white - the supplier was a small UK nursery and it was their last year in active business, and some labels had got dislodged from pots, so they were only pretty sure that is what they sent. It has leaves far paler than bulbs with the usual pink flowers - bright lime green, so I will be extremely surprised if it does not flower white.

Quote from: Uli on April 16, 2025, 03:00:54 PMAs promised, here are some pictures of different cultivars of Amaryllis belladonna in my garden.
I have come to the conclusion that soil quality does not really seem to matter much. The traditional local pale flowering form shows the same virus streaks like yours. I now think that it is virused. Same with Fred Meyer's White.
The other cultivars and the unnamed (and so far unflowered) seedlings seem to be unaffected. It is interesting how different the seedlings look like. Thank you for raising this topic, I was not aware of the virus in my plants.

Thanks Uli
I too didn't noticed much difference in different soils or after fertilization. In part shade yes, I noticed a much messier and ugly foliage, paler too i think, flowering differences i don't know because fire hit them at that time. It kiled all adult trees but I think not one belladonna died though i planted most quite exposed.

Quote from: Uli on April 16, 2025, 03:00:54 PMThe traditional local pale flowering form shows the same virus streaks like yours. I now think that it is virused. Same with Fred Meyer's White.
The other cultivars and the unnamed (and so far unflowered) seedlings seem to be unaffected.

It's such a random pattern to be normal to them I think. I still kept the bigger ones in another place and will be more assertive with their pest control to see if it's not just pest damage, as mine had a big thrips and snail party.
Though unaffected plants and seedlings point more to virus...

Quote from: Uli on April 16, 2025, 03:00:54 PMIt is interesting how different the seedlings look like. Thank you for raising this topic, I was not aware of the virus in my plants.

Definitely, they look very different ages.
I always assumed it as from the in them ever present snails. Only paid more attention to it because of the issue with iris, and because of agapanthus and narcissus literally among them not showing any kind of damage.

Quote from: Uli on April 16, 2025, 12:17:15 AMIf you have an issue with Narcissus not flowering and only producing leaves you may have Narcissus fly. Where in Portugal do you live? And at what elevation? My garden is near Monchique in the very south western corner of the Algarve at 350m elevation. I have planted a lot of Narcissus in the beginning only to find out that the ones with larger bulbs would either disappear completely or end up with a few thin leaves. The same applies to Habranthus, Hippeastrum and especially to Sprekelia. The smaller Narcissus like for example N. bulbocodium which are native here are not affected and interestingly the fairly large bulbs of the native N. papyraceus aren't either. There is a reason for being native.
...
I am not sure about the necessity for winter chill for Narcissus, it certainly applies to Central Asian tulips.

Actually only had problems with them not flowering at all a few times. Usually when planted close to a south facing wall, potted, or when heavilly shaded. Just assumed it was too warm to them but as i keep moving them almost yearly to be "winter fillers", maybe I moved them too late those times and messed with their roots.
They usually multiply well and bulbs look ok, but I'll check it better this year if they show damage. The ones I have are some regular medium sized with greyish green foliage, have no idea about variety. I'll get some smaller variety with greener foliage as I like it more and them won't get damaged by weather as easilly.
Hippeastrum are such a expensive snack for worms... really not something you want to be attacked.
I'm near Aveiro, some 15km inland, around 100m elevation i think. You must have a much nicer winter than me, and frost free.

Quote from: Uli on April 16, 2025, 12:17:15 AMAmaryllis belladonna and Nerine does not seem to be attacked by Narcissus flies (so far....)

Hope not. Trying nerines first time this year.

Quote from: Uli on April 16, 2025, 12:17:15 AMCommercial bulbs can always be infected with virus.....

Yeah, it seems. I usually only worried about cannas, but seems like it's not a rare issue with other species too.

Quote from: Uli on April 16, 2025, 12:17:15 AMIn autumn I always have kilos of seed of Amaryllis belladonna and I would be more than happy to let you have it

I would be very gratefull! 😁 It would be a good way to get a lot of different plants and clean stock after the disaster i had with mine.

As promised, here are some pictures of different cultivars of Amaryllis belladonna in my garden.
I have come to the conclusion that soil quality does not really seem to matter much. The traditional local pale flowering form shows the same virus streaks like yours. I now think that it is virused. Same with Fred Meyer's White.
The other cultivars and the unnamed (and so far unflowered) seedlings seem to be unaffected. It is interesting how different the seedlings look like. Thank you for raising this topic, I was not aware of the virus in my plants.

If you have an issue with Narcissus not flowering and only producing leaves you may have Narcissus fly. Where in Portugal do you live? And at what elevation? My garden is near Monchique in the very south western corner of the Algarve at 350m elevation. I have planted a lot of Narcissus in the beginning only to find out that the ones with larger bulbs would either disappear completely or end up with a few thin leaves. The same applies to Habranthus, Hippeastrum and especially to Sprekelia. The smaller Narcissus like for example N. bulbocodium which are native here are not affected and interestingly the fairly large bulbs of the native N. papyraceus aren't either. There is a reason for being native.
Amaryllis belladonna and Nerine does not seem to be attacked by Narcissus flies (so far....)
I am not sure about the necessity for winter chill for Narcissus, it certainly applies to Central Asian tulips.
Commercial bulbs can always be infected with virus.....
In autumn I always have kilos of seed of Amaryllis belladonna and I would be more than happy to let you have it 

Quote from: Uli on April 15, 2025, 03:58:02 PMIf you live in Portugal you probably have the pale pink traditional variety of Amaryllis belladonna in your garden. I have this form, too but most of the other ones are the Rose Foncé form from the now closed nursery Bulb Argence in France. I also have some other named varieties in smaller numbers. I will go and check tomorrow (weather permitting....) and will let you know. The named cultivars look healthy and dark green and especially the Rose Foncé foliage is broader and much taller than the traditional one.
Bye for now

Exactly, they all look like that traditional one. 
I think I'll just get new ones. Even though i like a lot the original one there are gorgeous and taller varieties of Xamarygias. 
Unfortunately they are not common here. 

Thanks CG100
I bought those narcissus (tete a tete i think) from last photo less than a month ago and they were kept away from the other plants, so they likely already came with it. All 6 bulbs were like that. I think I would never noticed it if I did't have the ongoing issue the other plants. I thought I was just being paranoid. I pulled and trashed so many plants in the last 2 weeks that I don't feel into going to the garden.

I usually don't let plants get into very congested clumps, my flowering issue with narcissus is probably more with chilling hours. In a exposed sunny harm spot they just produce leaves. Some varieties don't seem to do fine here.

I looked closely (with clean hands n clothes) at a few people's plants and i saw both belladonnas and iris with normal homogeneous coloured leaves, iris with only clearly stripped or mosaic pattern, or mixed with normal ones. 
In one place belladonnas had the same mosaic as i have but less noticeable and were mixed with plants with normal leaves. Most were affected and the normal ones were mostly in the same clump.
Normal and patterned plants together point out more to virus than pest damage i guess?...

Quote from: CG100 on April 15, 2025, 01:48:09 AMThe most recent photo' certainly looks like virus.

Over the years people have asked me several times "why have my daff's stopped flowering?", and each time they have had congested clumps that haven't been separated for years, or fed.
After feeding heavily 2-3 times over one growing season with a high potash (usually a tomato) fertiliser, they have flowered very well the following year, but they do need feeding over one growing season.

That said, if this is your second season there and the plants look broadly similar, virus does seem a good bet. Presumably carried by thrips.
Can you compare to plants in other gardens close-by?

In the iris, it could be yellow-spot virus but if you look for pic's online, symptoms vary massively.

If you live in Portugal you probably have the pale pink traditional variety of Amaryllis belladonna in your garden. I have this form, too but most of the other ones are the Rose Foncé form from the now closed nursery Bulb Argence in France. I also have some other named varieties in smaller numbers. I will go and check tomorrow (weather permitting....) and will let you know. The named cultivars look healthy and dark green and especially the Rose Foncé foliage is broader and much taller than the traditional one.
Bye for now