Legacy Bulbs Three

On the legacy bulb wiki pages Kathleen Sayce reviews bulbs that outlast their gardeners, with some hints as to why. Suggestions came from PBS list members, review of world weed lists, USDA PLANTS National Database, Flora of North America, and some university databases. For more information consult Legacy Bulbs Index and Introduction.

Information about relevant Anemone species through Chionodoxa species can be found on this wiki page. Information about other species is found on the pages linked below:
Albuca through Amaryllis - Colchicum through Erythronium - Ficaria through Hyacinthus - Ipheion through Iris - Ixia through Lycoris - Merendera through Nerine - Ornithogalum through Sternbergia - Trillium through Zephyranthes


Anemone is a genus of about 150 species in the Ranunculaceae, from both hemispheres, in the temperate zones. The following species are known to thrive when their optimal growing conditions are met. Those conditions may include well drained moist soil and partial shade.

Anemone blanda has blue, pink or white flowers, and forms a corm; when its preferred growing conditions are met, well drained soil, compost, damp spring and dry summer, it can thrive for many years unattended. "Out of what came to me labeled as 'White Splendor' a few bulbs survived in my lawn for several years. I eventually moved the survivors to my woodland garden, where they still seem to be thriving. And, it looks as if they have seeded around a bit!" Jim Shields, central Indiana, USA

Anemone blanda, John LonsdaleAnemone blanda, John LonsdaleAnemone blanda, John Lonsdale

Anemone nemorosa, wood anemone, has white flowers, and blooms in early spring. There are some blue flowered selections. This anemone is a good partner with rhododendrons, and flourishes with them in the right growing conditions. "Anemone nemorosa is considered a pest by many gardeners."Jane McGary, NW Oregon, WHZ 7.

Anemone nemorosa, Bob RutemoellerAnemone nemorosa, John Lonsdale

Anemone ranunculoides, yellow wood anemone or buttercup anemone, is a woodland flower with rich yellow coloring. Like other anemones, if planted in optimal conditions, it can flourish for years past its gardener.

Anemone ranunculoides, John Lonsdale

Anthericum liliago, St Bernard’s lily, is native to Mediterranean meadows of southern Europe, flowering in late spring, WHZ 7-9. Needs well drained soil, and prefers dry summer conditions.

Anthericum liliago, Bob RutemoellerAnthericum liliago, Bob Rutemoeller

Arisaema triphyllum, Jack-in-the-pulpit, is native to Midwestern and Eastern North America, and easily naturalizes from gardens in this region.

Arisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum green, Giorgio PozziArisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum, Giorgio PozziArisaema triphyllum ssp. triphyllum, Giorgio Pozzi

Arum has species that are largely European and Mediterranean in origin; all parts of the plant are toxic, which helps them persist as legacy plants. They flourish in wet temperate winters and dry summers, such as in the Pacific Northwest, and can become garden weeds.

Arum italicum, Italian lords & ladies, has naturalized on the West Coast of the United States, Missouri, Illinois, and North Carolina. It is known to be invasive in warmer climates.

Arum italicum, Angelo PorcelliArum italicum variegated, Angelo Porcelli

Arum maculatum, jack in the pulpit, and a dozen other common names, is native to temperate northern Europe.

Arum maculatum, Bob RutemoellerArum maculatum, Jamie Vande

Arum palaestinum, Solomon’s lily, black calla lily, has naturalized in California, WHZ 9-11.

Arum palaestinum, Susan Hayek

Bulbocodium vernum, syn. Colchicum bulbocodium, syn. Colchicum vernum, spring meadow saffron, flowers in early spring, before much foliage has appeared. This species prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil; WHZ 3-8.

Bulbocodium vernum, Judy Glattstein

Calydorea coelestina, syn. Salpingostylis coelestina, syn. Ixia coelestina, a species with many previous botanical names and still waiting a final one, known commonly as Bartram’s ixia, is native to Georgia and north Florida, WHZ 9.

Calydorea coelestina, Jim McKenney

Camassia is native to North America, so species not only establish, they outlast gardeners, and may become invasive in optimal growing locations. Having deeply planted bulbs, digging them out can be difficult. "Camassia, any species as far as I can tell. They set seed like it's going out of style, and every seed that drops germinates to become a flowering bulb in five years or so." Rodger Whitlock, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, Maritime Zone 8

Camassia leichtlinii, large camas, is native to the West Coast, from California to British Columbia.

Camassia leichtlinii ssp. leichtlinii, Rodger WhitlockCamassia leichtlinii ssp. suksdorfii, Kathleen Sayce

Camassia quamash, small camas, is native to the West, from California to British Columbia and Alberta. (Note: This species, although native to where I live, only grows in areas with a wet water table and in my dry summer garden has not only not become invasive, but has disappeared where it was planted. Mary Sue Ittner, coastal Northern California.

Camassia quamash, Mary Sue IttnerCamassia quamash, Mary Sue IttnerCamassia quamash, Kathleen Sayce

Camassia scilloides, Atlantic camas, is native to the lower Midwest and East, from Texas to Ontario, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

Camassia scilloides, Giorgio Pozzi

Canna indica is native to Gulf states of the US, from Texas to Virginia. It easily naturalizes in nearby areas.

Canna indica, Alberto Grossi

Cardiocrinum cordatum has been reported as naturalizing in a wooded area southwest of Baltimore, Maryland, see Cardiocrinum cordatum.

Cardiocrinum cordatum, Jim McKenneyCardiocrinum cordatum, Jim McKenneyCardiocrinum cordatum, Jim McKenneyCardiocrinum cordatum, Jim McKenney

Cardiocrinum giganteum, giant Himalayan lily, is native to Asia, where it grows in subalpine mountains. Tasty to slugs and snails, it cannot thrive where these mollusks flourish, but in some gardens it sets prolific seed. It is included here because when optimal growing conditions are met, it can be almost a weed. The rest of us can only imagine this situation. "I hesitate to compost the seeds lest they grow, said the woman with groves of Cardiocrinum in the display gardens already," Paige Woodward, in a PBS online discussion.

Cardiocrinum giganteum - May 28, 2005, Arnold TrachtenbergCardiocrinum giganteum, Jane McGary

Chasmanthe bicolor and Chasmanthe floribunda, African cornflag, persists in and around San Francisco Bay Area and along the ocean coast northward, California, in disturbed urban areas.

Chasmanthe bicolor, Mary Sue IttnerChasmanthe floribunda, Brackenfell, Mary Sue IttnerChasmanthe floribunda, Brackenfell, Mary Sue Ittner

Chionodoxa sardensis, syn. Scilla sardensis, glory of the snow, is native to mountains of western Turkey; flowers bloom in early summer. In milder climates, Chionodoxa sardensis flowers in early spring. In optimal climates plants can persist for years.

Scilla sardensis, syn. ×Chionodoxa sardensis, Arnold Trachtenberg

Species listed on other legacy bulb pages can be found alphabetically by clicking on the links below or by going to the index and introduction page where they will be listed in a table:
Albuca through Amaryllis - Colchicum through Erythronium - Ficaria through Hyacinthus - Ipheion through Iris - Ixia through Lycoris - Merendera through Nerine - Ornithogalum through Sternbergia - Trillium through Zephyranthes - Legacy Bulbs Index and Introduction


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