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Erythronium bulbs/dog's tooth violet

Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
in Plants
I saw on GW tonight this pretty delicate looking plant and was told by Monty that it is a bulb.  Does anyone grow it - how easy is it to find the bulbs in a GC and are they reliable and worth while growing?

Posts

  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,360
    edited May 2018
    I have some 'White Beauty', they're wonderful. I didn't get them from a GC. Mine came from Sarah Raven - just a few but every single one came up. They were very short lived this year though, due to the weather I think - they were late appearing and then shortly after they flowered we had a heatwave and they didn't like that! 

    They are an absolute treat. 


    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • Daisy33Daisy33 Posts: 1,031
    I bought my bulbs from the secret gardening club, Pagoda and White Beauty. Love them although the slugs do enjoy the leaves and at that time of year it is difficult to win the battle with slugs/snails.

    Been reliable for 4/5 years for me but they didn't enjoy this Spring as LG said. If you have a woodlandy area in your garden I would recommend.
  • Joyce21Joyce21 Posts: 15,489
    Pagoda and White Beauty.
    Pagoda has been in a south facing position for over ten years as, when I planted them, I didn't know they preferred shade.......two large clumps which flower profusely.
    SW Scotland
  • MarranMarran Posts: 195
    I've had Pagoda (yellow) in a large tub for a few years now - they've multiplied well - in fact, I'll probably have to divide the clump soon.  Definitely considering getting some other colours.  Go for it!
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Love them.
    Not easy to get from a garden centre. 
    They just tend to stock Erythronium Pagoda  with yellow flowers in the spring.
    Many other wonderful ones  grow in UK.
    Joyce can grow them in sun cos she lives in Scotland which is cooler than S.E. of UK.
    Dappled shade and cool is normally preferred.
    If happy they will slowly grow to form large patches.

    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • DampGardenManDampGardenMan Posts: 1,054
    We tried E. revolutum one year, in a heavy damp clay soil, but only one of six came up. And it wasn't there the year after. 'Pagoda' on the other hand grew away quite happily. Might give revolutum another go in our new garden.

    Buy the bulbs only from a "proper" nursery as they hate drying out. And get them in the ground as soon as you can.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Thanks for all your helpful comments - I am now in two minds whether to buy some later this year.  We don't have many cooler, shadier places in the garden, and of course getting a reputable company to post them over here is always a problem.  I imagine the reason that I didn't recognize the name is because they are not stocked in our warm/dry garden centres.  However I will look out for the name and Pagoda or White Beauty.
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