bulbs in a watered planter

Jane McGary janemcgary@earthlink.net
Thu, 19 Feb 2015 09:41:20 PST
I'm assuming that if someone asked Kathleen Sayce about this, they 
live near her, on the Pacific Northwest coast. Many of the plants 
people have recommended, although thought to be "hardy in Zone 8" , 
would not survive winters there, especially in a planter above 
ground. The USDA zone ratings simply don't work west of the Rocky Mountains.

Some bulbs that I have in summer-irrigated areas include hybrid 
daffodils, Fritillaria meleagris, Eucomis species and hybrids, 
Ipheion (already mentioned), Galanthus, Corydalis solida selections 
('Beth Evans' is widely available in garden centers now), Cyclamen 
hederifolium (will grow anywhere in this region), Erythronium 
revolutum, many Muscari, Tulipa sylvestris, Crocus vernus forms, and 
many Arum species. The Eucomis can be used to provide summer foliage 
interest when the others are dormant. They should, however, be 
heavily mulched over winter -- I'm not sure if they would survive 
freezing in a container.

There are of course many other kinds of bulbs that could be used, but 
those are the ones that are commercially available.

Fritillaria meleagris, in the USA, is best purchased as a potted 
plant in growth, since the bare bulbs offered in garden centers have 
usually been stored too long and are likely to be dead. I was 
fortunate to be able to buy some named varieties from the UK many 
years ago, which came in good condition, and from them have descended 
hundreds of offsets and seedlings. SInce I moved to a site with clay 
soil rather than the gritty soil at my former home, they have 
flourished even more, which I attribute to the moisture retention 
they now experience.

Jane McGary
Portland, Oregon, USA





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