over-enthusiastic bulbs

Diane Whitehead voltaire@islandnet.com
Mon, 05 May 2008 13:01:15 PDT
We have lists of bulbs that do well with no fussing, bulbs that won't  
do well even if you do fuss a bit, and now, how about bulbs that over- 
extend themselves?

Sometimes these are ones that are difficult to get started, like lily- 
of-the-valley (Convallaria majalis) and Peruvian lily (Alstroemeria  
aurantiaca).  Once they decide to grow, however, they're off!

Some produce copious seed and offsets, like Spanish bluebells  
(currently Hyacinthoides hispanica, I think) and various Muscari.

I don't think any bulbs invade natural areas on their own, though  
Alstroemeria can explode their seedpods and shoot their seeds a short  
distance. The more usual method of invasion is by tidy gardeners who  
have been observed trundling wheelbarrow loads of them into the  
woods.  Once there, they spread.

So - what bulbs would you warn against in your area?

Diane Whitehead





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