STERNBERGIA'S.

Sternbergia lutea.

 Sternbergia's have done well for Fermi in Kyneton, Victoria this year we have had very little rain and it has been very hot and dry. Fermi writes;  Sternbergia lutea which appeared in early March. This is the form in "the trade" and can be obtained from many bulb sellers. These came from Otto. They are growing under deciduous trees and the flowers emerge with foliage. (above)

This colony of S. lutea grows at the base of a rock wall in full sun and the flowers usually emerge before the leaves.

Otherwise they seem to be identical to the others; we got these from Doug Bryce who was a bulb seller in Kyneton. (above)

This colony of S. lutea grows at the base of a rock wall in full sun and the flowers usually emerge before the leaves.

Otherwise they seem to be identical to the others; we got these from Doug Bryce who was a bulb seller in Kyneton, (above)

A few years ago we had a nice clump of the winter flowering Sternbergia candida - again a kind gift from Otto - which he had raised from seed. He had two seedlings and gave us one which did very well in a raised bed in full sun till two years ago when they failed to reappear! Why? It could be that they had too damp a summer as we had started watering a bed which was higher up in the garden.

These pics are from 2015. In the recent final catalogue from Hillview Rare Plants I found there was S. candida on offer so now I hope to establish it again. ( 3 Pictures above and below)

Sternbergia sicula grown from seed from Rannweig Wallis in Wales; originally from Crete. There is a bit of variation in the petal shape as these were from seed rather than one clone propagated vegetatively. In our garden they usually start in early March and continue for a month.

Click on Fermi's photo's to see them full size, what a beautiful sight it must be to see the Sternbergia's in all their glory. They need a hot position in the garden and full sun very similar to Cyclamen graecum in fact they look good together.