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