Last year's fall bulb buying included several hybrid Lachenalias, most from Komoriya nursery. Several other interesting bulbs made it here as well, but they won't flower for a couple of months and will be a future post. The Lachenalia's varied, with most having flowers much bigger than the pure species I normally grow, and some with flowers and stalks that were so heavy that they flopped. It will be interesting to see what they look like in a year when they have a chance to get acclimatized to my somewhat tougher growing conditions. All of these are growing in 3 1/2 inch pots in pure pumice. They were fertilized a bit in the fall to get them going, and then watered regularly (but infrequently) during our very dry winter. The leaves of all are beginning to look old. Most set seed, which I've collected, ready for an October planting.
Lachenalia 'Haru no Nigore' with fantastic buds, but just OK open flowers. They were green at the base as they opened, but eventually turned an ordinary yellow not nearly as bright as many of the species.
Lachenalia 'December Purple Lip' was the second to open. As with L. 'Haru no Nigore', the buds were more interesting than the open flower. The more it opened, the less purple the lip was. It's well worth growing jut for the bud.
A fully open Lachenalia 'Haru no Yume', with very nice color, and flowers that are not too large.
Finally Lachenalia 'The Nocturne' Beautiful small flowers with fantastic color.
None of these showed any sign of offsets, but there is always next year. Great plants all, and a great addition to an otherwise dull and dry winter.
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