Brunsvigia grandiflora

[Allen Repashy]

This Brunsvigia seems to really be an oddball by description.. Growing in a Summer Rainfall zone, but remaining dormant until Fall in habitat. Seems like a winter grower that got caught in the wrong place and refuses to adapt LOL.

Growing foliage in the absence of rain seems to be counter productive. Possibly there is still some rainfall in Fall/Winter.

Does anyone grow this bulb here on the west coast? I am curious what it's growth habit is in our Mediterranean landscape when grown from seed, or how imported bulbs adapt.

Ken? Tim?

[Tim Harvey]

I have quite a few scattered around the place, and they grow as in habitat. I suspect the bulb is able to take up water without leaves and use it later in the year. Of course here they get the winter rains. There are several reports of them flowering quite quickly from seed - 6-7 years.

T

[amarguy]

I believe I have 3 ... which have yet to flower. They were originally small bulbs, labelled as B.gregaria, but the foliage growth appears more like that as documented for B.grandiflora, resembling Boophone disticha's spreading fan of twisty leaves. My 3 bulbs produce leaves in August, which last through late spring and have gone deciduous for only 2 months. I too, am a bit confused, not only because these were sold as B.gregaria, but because the growth cycle seemed counter to those of bulbs from summer rainfall areas of S.A. - Ken

[Allen Repashy]

Thanks Guys,

I am picking up some bulbs and was trying to figure out where to put them... Sounds like just setting them up in my winter growing garden next to the B. heamanthoides, and B. josephinae is the place to put them.

Do you guys give them summer water, or just let them naturalize?

Cheers, Allen

[amarguy]

I have been giving my shots of water every two weeks or so in late spring and early summer ... until they appear to go dormant by dropping their leaves in June or early July. Again, the foliage looks very much like Boophone disticha. Of course, mine have not flowered yet ... so maybe that's what I've got! Mine are situated in between Bruns.Josephinae, Bruns. marginata and some young Haemanthus amaryllioides. Pic attached.

Ken

[Allen Repashy]

Hi Ken,

Thanks for the pic. ..... that sure looks like the plant I have labeled as B disticha 'Port Elizabeth' which is pretty much evergreen for me so far here in Bonsall.

It doesn't look anything like the photo's of grandiflora I found surfing the web....

From africanbulbs.com



From plantzafrica.com

[amarguy]

Hey Allen ...
you may be right ... however, check out the foliage of the two shots of B.grandiflora posted on the PBS wiki site :

http://www.pacificbulbsociety.org/pb...php/Brunsvigia

I ordered B.gregaria ... but what I received certainly don't appear to be B.gregaria leaves. I assumed still a Brunsvigia, and tried to match what I saw on the web. I guess flowering, when they eventually do so, will be the clincher.

Ken

[Allen Repashy]

Hi Ken,

Yeah, I looked at those too.... The only shot that shows distichous leaves is the very first one... and they look like new growth that just hasn't spiraled out yet..... I guess only flowers will tell the truth as you say.. They are beautiful any way you slice them!

Allen

[amarguy]

Hey Allen ...

I'd much prefer the agave-like rosette leaves of the Brunsvigia grandiflora in the shot from africanbulbs.com you posted above! Do the leaves of your B.grandiflora appear more like that?

Ken

[Allen Repashy]

I couldn't tell you.... I haven't even gotten them yet LOL. Just doing a little research in advance. Hey, if you are around this weekend, drop me a line and come on up for a visit.

Allen

[Tim Harvey]

Here are a couple of bad pictures of two of mine - much broader and less distichous appearing. I put one in a real winter grower bed and it nearly croaked.

Ken, I have some of those 'gregaria' and think they are Boophone.

T

Originally Posted by amarguy

Hey Allen ...

I'd much prefer the agave-like rosette leaves of the Brunsvigia grandiflora in the shot from africanbulbs.com you posted above! Do the leaves of your B.grandiflora appear more like that?

Ken

[amarguy]

Hey Tim,

thanks for the shots. It's looking more and more like what I've got are just Boophones ... oh well ... they have a much more upright growth habit and fan shape than my winter growing Boophone distichas ... so that is a plus. Have your's bloomed for you?

Ken

[Tim Harvey]

Ken,

No blooms on any of them yet - the grandiflora came from Mike Vassar via HBG.

T

Originally Posted by amarguy

Hey Tim,

thanks for the shots. It's looking more and more like what I've got are just Boophones ... oh well ... they have a much more upright growth habit and fan shape than my winter growing Boophone distichas ... so that is a plus. Have your's bloomed for you?

Ken

[Allen Repashy]

I just noticed these imported bulbs I got in the spring are now just starting to break dormancy... I am very curious as to what the foliage looks like and will share a pic as soon as they are worthy.

Allen