BULBS

Flower & Garden Magazine, Feb, 1999

BULBS AND TUBERS

LILY FAMILY

Ornithogalum (`Chesapeake' series) are shorter than traditional Star-of-Bethlehem lilies and they work well as houseplants. Cold treatments are not necessary for these lilies.

`Chesapeake Sunshine' is 6 to 8 inches tall and produces 25 to 30 bright yellow 1.2-inch flowers.

`Chesapeake Sunset' is 2.8 to 4 inches tall and produces 20 to 25 dark orange 1.2-inch flowers.

`Chesapeake Blaze' is 7.2 to 8 inches tall and produces 35 to 40 orange 2-inch flowers. Bay City Flower Co.

DAFFODILS

`Primeur' is a daffodil that naturalizes well; it is very free-flowering and vigorous. It has classic trumpets with deep yellow blooms. Park Seed

TULIPS

`Blushing Girl' is a midseason tulip. It is a delicious cream feathered with rose. It grows 20 inches tall. Park Seed

`Gavota' is a tulip that offers a dazzling combination of rich purple-black and golden yellow. It blooms midseason on 16- to 18-inch stems. Park Seed

AMARYLLIS FAMILY

`Lady Guineivere' has 8- to 10-inch, chiffon yellow, outfacing flowers on 6-foot stems. This very drought-tolerant clone has perfectly sun-fast blooms in even the hottest climates. It blooms in late July to early August in the Pacific Northwest. B&D Lilies.

TUBERS

A `Gallery' dahlia is a cross between a cactus and a decorative dahlia. It can reach 12 to 14 inches tall and have up to 30, 3- to 4-inch flowers of various colors throughout summer and fall. It's great for containers and borders. Space them 1 to 1-1/2 feet apart. Dutch Gardens

`Bishop's Children' is a dahlia with mostly single blossoms in predominately red shades. Nearly all plants will have distinctive reddish foliage with a bronzy metallic sheen. The plants are 36 inches tall. Burpee

`Snow Rice-Cake Plant' (Arisaema sikokianum) has gray, hooded flowers with white interiors and red fruit. It needs well-drained, moist soil that is high in organic matter. It's good for shade gardens, containers or arrangements. Zones 5-9. Wayside Gardens

`LeVern Friemann' is a completely red tetraploid Oriental lily. The flowers are cherry red with a chocolate-colored nectary star and only have a hint of white on the edges from the petal's reverse. It has a sweet fragrance and tall stems. B&D Lilies

`Victorian Petticoat' (pictured) and `Victorian Ruffle' are sweet-smelling, tall Oriental-Trumpet crosses with mahogany centers and vanilla edges. The sepals of `Victorian Ruffle' curl back informally. They bloom in late July to early August in the Pacific Northwest, and somewhat earlier inland. B&D Lilies

Lilium `Golden Stardust' is an Oriental lily with a golden yellow bloom and a strong fragrance. It's easy to grow and its large 8- to 10-inch blooms are flecked with crimson spots. Plant in sun or light shade in slightly acidic, well-drained soil. Mulch during the growing season. Zones 4-9. Wayside Gardens

`Saint Joseph's Lily' (Hippeastrum x johnsonii) has 5-inch scarlet flowers with white streaks and green centers. The bulbs produce up to four stalks per year and tolerate clay soils and cold, damp winter soils. Partial shade is best, but full sun is fine if the bulbs don't get too dry during the summer. Louisiana Nursery