Bulbous perennial, with long, straplike, hollow grey-green leaves and having a round flowerhead containing many small star-shaped purple flowers. Plant the bulbs about 6-8 inches deep. Excellent for drying. Grows best in full sun.
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Characteristics
Cultivar: n/aFamily: Liliaceae
Size: Height: 2 ft. to 3 ft.
Width: 0 ft. to 0 ft.
Plant Category: bulbous plants,
Plant Characteristics:
Foliage Characteristics: deciduous,
Flower Characteristics: long lasting, showy, unusual,
Flower Color: purples,
Tolerances:
Requirements
Bloomtime Range: Late Spring to Mid Summer
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4 to 10
AHS Heat Zone: Not defined for this plant
Light Range: Part Sun to Full Sun
pH Range: 6.5 to 7.5
Soil Range: Some Sand to Some Clay
Water Range: Normal to Normal
Plant Care
Fertilizing
How-to : Fertilization for Annuals and PerennialsAnnuals and perennials may be fertilized using: 1.water-soluble, quick release fertilizers; 2. temperature controlled slow-release fertilizers; or 3. organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion. Water soluble fertilizers are generally used every two weeks during the growing season or per label instructions. Controlled, slow-release fertilizers are worked into the soil ususally only once during the growing season or per label directions. For organic fertilizers such as fish emulsion, follow label directions as they may vary per product.
Light
Conditions : Part SunPart Sun refers to filtered light, with most sun being received during the afternoon hours. Shade usually occurs during the morning hours.
Watering
Conditions : Normal Watering for Outdoor PlantsNormal watering means that soil should be kept evenly moist and watered regularly, as conditions require. Most plants like 1 inch of water a week during the growing season, but take care not to over water. The first two years after a plant is installed, regular watering is important for establishment. The first year is critical. It is better to water once a week and water deeply, than to water frequently for a few minutes.
Planting
How-to : Preparing Garden BedsUse a soil testing kit to determine the acidity or alkalinity of the soil before beginning any garden bed preparation. This will help you determine which plants are best suited for your site. Check soil drainage and correct drainage where standing water remains. Clear weeds and debris from planting areas and continue to remove weeds as soon as they come up.
A week to 10 days before planting, add 2 to 4 inches of aged manure or compost and work into the planting site to improve fertility and increase water retention and drainage. If soil composition is weak, a layer of topsoil should be considered as well. No matter if your soil is sand or clay, it can be improved by adding the same thing: organic matter. The more, the better; work deep into the soil. Prepare beds to an 18 inch deep for perennials. This will seem like a tremendous amount of work now, but will greatly pay off later. Besides, this is not something that is easily done later, once plants have been established.
How-to : Planting Bulbs
Plant bulbs at a depth that is three times their height, and at least 1-1/2 bulb-widths apart. Work a little bone meal fertilizer into the bottom of your hole, and then place the bulb upright in the hole. The more pointed end is almost always the top. If you have trouble telling which is the top, look for evidence of where a stem or roots were last year. If in doubt, plant them sideways. Fill in with soil gently, making sure there are no rocks or clods that would impede the bulb's stem. When planting a great number of bulbs, dig out an area to the specified depth, place bulbs and replace soil. This ensures that ground has been properly prepared and bulbs are evenly spaced.
Plant bulbs in natural drifts rather that formal rows: bulbs can fail or be eaten, leaving holes in a formal arrangement, or will shift with freezing and thawing. If you have trouble with gophers or squirrels eating your bulbs, try sprinkling red pepper in the holes, covering the bulbs with chicken-wire, surround bulbs with sharp shards of gravel or other substance, or planting rodent-repelling bulbs like Fritillaria nearby.
Problems
Miscellaneous
How-to : Cut FlowersFlowers suitable for cutting maintain their form for several days when properly conditioned and placed in water or soaked oasis. A cut flower should have a fairly strong, long stem, making it easy to work with in arrangements. There are many short stem flowers that make good cut flowers too, but they look best when floated in a bowl or clustered and placed in a juice glass size vase.
For best results, always cut flowers early in the morning, preferably before dew has had a chance to dry. Always make cuts with a sharp knife or pruners and plunge flowers or foliage into a bucket of water. Store in a cool place until you are ready to work with them, this will keep flowers from opening. Always re-cut stems and change water frequently. Washing vases or containers to rid of existing bacteria helps increase their life, as well.
How-to : Dried Flowers
Some cut flowers make excellent dried flowers. Good dried flower candidates hold their color, form, and often fragrance once dried. Large, fleshy-petaled flowers do not dry well. Air drying is the easiest. Make sure that flowers are not damp. Tie them in a small bunch and hang upside down in a dark, well-ventilated room. Silicone drying is another popular method and crystals can be bought in craft stores.
Glossary : Bulbs
A bulb is a modified, underground stem.
How-to : Getting the Most Out of Cut Flowers
Cut flowers bring the garden into your home. While some cut flowers have a long vase life, most are highly perishable. How cut flowers are treated when you first bring them home can significantly increase how long they last.
The most important thing to consider is getting sufficient water taken up into the cut stem. Insufficient water can result in wilting and short-lived flowers. Bent neck of roses, where the flower head droops, is the result of poor water uptake. To maximize water uptake, first re-cut the stems at an angle so that the vascular system (the ""plumbing"" of the stem) is clear. Next immerse the cut stems in warm water.
Remember when the flower is cut, it is cut off from its food supply. Once water is taken care of, food is the resource that will run out next. The plants stems naturally feed the flowers with sugars. If you add a bit of sugar (1 tsp.) to the vase water, this will help feed the flower stems and extend their vase life.
Bacteria will build up in vase water and eventually clog up the stem so the flower cannot take up water. To prevent this, change the vase water frequently and make a new cut in the stems every few days.
Floral preservatives, available from florists, contain sugars, acids and bacteriacides that can extend cut flower life. These come in small packets and are generally available where cut flowers are sold. If used properly, these can extend the vase life of some cut flowers 2 to 3 times when compared with just plain water in the vase.
How-to : Selecting and Storing Bulbs
Larger bulbs will generally produce larger, healthier plants. Bulbs that are small for their species type will have small or no flowers the first year, but may pick up in their second year. Daffodils with two points will have two flower stalks if both bulb parts are large enough.
Select bulbs that have intact skins or ""tunics"". These plants are less vulnerable to disease. When buying bulbs with split tunics, look for areas that appear diseased on the flesh of the bulb. It's much like shopping for onions. Some smaller bulbs, like Lily of the Valley ( Convallaria) or Snowdrops ( Galanthus), will establish better if you can buy them when they're in leaf, instead of dry bulbs.
You should plant your bulbs as soon as you can. You have purchased them in a dormant period, and you want them in the ground when they come out of it. If you can't plant your bulbs right away, store them in a dark, cool, dry place. Gasses given off by fruit can cause bulbs to rot; keep this in mind if storing your bulbs in a refrigerator. Some bulbs are better stored in slightly damp peat moss or shavings; if your bulb was stored this way when you bought it, continue to store it this way.