Spring 2010 Cornish Gardener 17
m underground beauties
areas although it is often best to grow it in a container and bring it inside in winter. Large, and sometimes expensive, bulbs should be planted in April in well drained soil in a sunny position. Bulblets form each year and can be removed and potted up. Hedychium: Better known as the ginger lily, Hedychium is an eye-catching rhizome grown as summer bedding. Plant in April in a warm and sheltered place. There are several species, the most attractive being H garderiarnum, yellow flowers with red filaments. Other colours include red, white and pink.
Hymenocallis: This is also a lily, known as the spider lily, but looks a bit like a daffodil. It needs a warm spot and container growing is best. Needs lifting in autumn. Only in very mild areas should bulbs be left in heavily mulched ground. White flowers which are fragrant or there is H Sulphur Queen which is yellow and green.
N
erine: Blooms on a leafless stem in late September, the leaves
having died back. Most species are tender and can only be grown indoors but N bowdenii, in bright pink, is hardy enough for outside in a warm and well drained spot. Looks best in large clumps which need dividing when too crowded. Pancratium: The sea lily, it has pure white flowers rather like narcissi but is very tender and may only succeed outdoors in coastal regions. Otherwise grow in pots in the greenhouse and bring outside in summer. Plant in early April. Paradisia: St Bernard’s lily, totally hardy with lily-like white flowers. Does well in partial shade and ideal for naturalising in grass, or under the shade of trees. Plant in April. This is a rhizome and often difficult to find except in pots. Will increase well. Pleione: A rockery orchid which needs shelter and warmth. It is a real orchid and not too fussy about soil but needs protection if planted outside, cover with a bell jar or small cloche in winter. Colours white, yellow, pink and purple or there is a pretty pink and white one. This is a tiny plant, only three inches high, so
needs a suitable place on a rockery to show it off. Plant in May. Ranunculus: The Persian Buttercup, a tuberous root with big showy blooms in yellow, orange, red, pink and white. Ideal cutting flowers. Plant the tuberous roots in April, lift and store in autumn as you would for dahlias. Roscoea: Not grown as much as it should be, this plant is very hardy and produces flowers which look similar to orchids or iris in yellow, pink, purple, white or red and yellow. Plant the tuberous root in April in sun or partial shade. For winter, cover the area with mulch. Sandersonia: The Chinese lantern lily, so named because of its lantern flowers which are deep orange or yellow. It’s a climber so must have some support. Absolutely needs a warm sheltered spot and very free draining soil, otherwise grow under glass. Plant tubers in April, lift and store in autumn. Sprekelia: The Jacobean lily, another tender bulb for mild areas and full sun. Big crimson petals on the orchid-like flowers, plant in April, lift and store in autumn. Tigridia: Called the tiger flower, the blooms are truly extraordinary with three outer petals, three inner petals and an interior splashed with multi colours. Comes in yellow, orange, pink, red, purple and white. Fairly tender so needs a sheltered warm spot. Plant in late April, lift and store in autumn. Watsonia: The Bugle lily looks like a species gladioli and should be treated the same. Plant in late April in full sun in well drained soil. Flowers on graceful spikes in orange pink or dark pink. Lift in autumn.The plant can grow to five feet so is excellent for a border although it may need staking. Not always easy to find. Zephyranthes: Is a little dainty lily ideal for rockeries, growing to around four inches. Flowers, rather like little open crocus, come in white, yellow, pink and purple. Only one of the species can be grown out of doors, Z candida, the rest need a conservatory. Plant in April in full sun. Best planted in little groups for the most attractive effect.
THE delicate spikes of Watsonia, a bulb very similar to gladioli
EUCOMIS, the pineapple lily. And it isn’t difficult to see why this is its name
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