My favorite iris is an oldie - Shah Jehan from 1932. It may not be the largest of irises in my garden, but it is more refined, without all the ruffles. Love the colorway.
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| Shah Jehan |
This year, my garden has produced one lone allium, whose name escapes me. Two years ago, however, I planted hundreds of Allium sphaerocephalon, but not a single one has come up. It's very frustrating, especially because this variety is supposedly native to Spain. In buying bulbs from Holland, though, I can't help but wonder if their stock has been modified for central/northern European climates, and therefore is not able to handle our drought.
I have been trying to find bulbs here in Spain, but no luck so far. It's interesting how native plants to Spain, such as Allium sphaerocephalon, euphorbia and asphodelus, are becoming popular in other countries for their use in drought-tolerant gardens, yet I can't find them here at a garden center or online.
But I've got my eye on a native allium that I've seen growing in a neighboring olive grove... ;)
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| My lone, no-name allium lasted just a day before the wind toppled it over. |
Your experience with Allium sphaerocephalon is interesting. I didn't plant as many as you did but I did plant 20 bulbs, split between 2 areas, 2.5 years ago. They bloomed the first year and the next and I saw signs that their foliage was coming up this year but I've yet to see any blooms. Two early heatwaves probably didn't help matters...
ResponderEliminarKris, this allium is a native of the Mediterranean basin and Middle East, so I can't imagine that heat should affect it, correct? That's why I'm suspicious of the bulb suppliers in Holland - are they producing subspecies that are more water-tolerant and therefore less drought-tolerant to supply the central/northern European market (which is where the money is)?
Eliminar