CALOCHORTUS
A very diverse genus with many flower forms. “Mariposas”, the big tulip shaped species are most sought after but the broadly bell shaped “Fairy Lanterns” and “Cat’s Ears” have their own special charm. All require well-drained dryish conditions to do really well but I have found them no trouble here in Hobart. They provide a genuine extension to the spring bulb flowering season by producing their exquisite blooms in November and December.
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albidus var. albidus Several, large, pendant, pearly-white fairy lanterns on 30cm stems in late
spring. Easy in the garden especially in slightly shaded woodland. FS/1st $5.00 |
albidus var. rubellus. A fairy lantern that bears pendant, translucent, ruby-pink open-mouthed bells on 30 cm stems in late spring. This particularly fine population from San Luis Obispo Co. has produced plants that were awarded a PC in the UK in 1995. FS/1st $6.00
clavatus ssp clavatus Very large, deep bowl-shaped flowers that satiny, golden-yellow and zigzag
lined red-brown inside with large red-purple anthers. FS/1st $6.00
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clavatus ssp recurvifolius Several solid yellow bowls, lined in reddish-brown, on 25cm branched stems. Unlike its relatives this subspecies has coiling, recurved grey-backed leaves. FS/1st $4.00 or 3 for $10.00
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f
imbriatus (syn. wee
dii var. vestus) Up to 4, erect, squarish bowls tinted opalescent grey and
stippled and blotched purple. Heavily speckled purple inside with a dense covering of yellow hairs.
A beautiful addition to the late bulb season. FS/1st $4.00
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luteus Large, upward facing, golden bowls marked inside with reddish-brown on 40cm stems. A
gorgeous mariposa tulip from California, which has proven very easy in a sunny well-drained spot
in the garden. FS $3.00 or 3 for $8.00
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nudus Superlative rich lavender, open-cupped, upright flowers early in the season. Like many of
the prairie tulips the flowers have a satiny finish and are pencilled basally in purple and white. Rare
and beautiful FS/1st $6.00 |
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obispoensis Really unlike anything else in the genus. Many small starry flowers on stiff branching 30cm stems. The blooms are feathery and have purple-tipped, yellow segments. FS/1st $ 4.00 |
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palmeri A very elegant mariposa to about 40cm tall with sugar-pink, widely cupped, upward-facing flowers, faintly brown-spotted inside. Beautiful, easy and very reliable. FS/1st $5.00 |
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simulans My stock has white, broadly-cupped, mariposa flowers, flushed lilac and brushed with darker purple basal markings on tall stems. FS/1st $4.00 |
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splendens Another magnificent Californian mariposa. Bears beautiful, soft-lavender, up-facing flowers with white wispy hairs and dark anthers on slender branding stems of 30-40cm. FS/1st $ 5.00 |
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superbus Classic mariposa from Mariposa County. Large, glistening white flowers with purple
brown blotches and basal markings on tall stems. FS $4.00 or 3 for $10.00
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umpquaensis Large, dramatic, creamy-white flowers blotched maroon-black at the centre.
Elegant, blue-green leaves and pendant, winged seed capsules. A classy endemic from Oregon.
Crème de la crème! FS/1st $ 6.00
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venustus An amazingly variable Californian species which bears large, magnificent, mariposa flowers that exceeds imagination. Our offerings range through shades of pink, purple, red and orange with complex blotches and basal markings in every combination of these. FS/1st $5.00 |
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vestae Very large upward facing bowl-shaped flowers of white or lilac with deep red-maroon pencilled bases surrounded by a yellow zone. Known as the “Goddess Mariposa”. FS $4.00 or 3 for $10.00
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