CODS CORNER Newsletter of The Central Ohio Daffodil Society

VOL. XX, No. 1 JANUARY 1990

Phyllis Hess. President Tag Bourne, Editor

Dear Fellow CODS Members,

I have been sitting here watching the snow come down and reading the Journal. Convention seems so far away but will be here before we know it! It appears Jaydee has great plans for us. Be sure to get your reservations in early.

I am secretly glad for the snow as it will be great mulch for the daffs. With all the cold weather moving in I had been worrying about a repeat of our winter of '83.

The catalogs from the Southern Hemisphere have been arriving and a couple orders sent. Some of their new releases sound terrific! I heard from our New Zealand members, Max and his Kath are off to Scotland until Christmas 1990! She won a teacher exchange and they leave on Boxing Day. Peter has been made head of the Education Dept at the University as well as being chosen to do research work for' curriculum in primary schools. And I thought I was busy.

Robin and David also had great success on the show bench mentioning that three of their successes were with new releases! It is always so nice to hear of our friends accomplishments. Even better to be able to grow their beautiful "children". (The bulbs I planted last spring that did not come up, did so this fall. I mulched them heavily for winter. The final result being that I had 100% success with the "down-unders".) Now---if they all bloom next year

I want to thank Cindy for the great program on miniatures. She has a fanatastic program planned for Feb. Clive Postles slides will give you lots of ideas for ordering new varieties! I think you will also really enjoy seeing how he grows his daffodils.

I hope Santa found room in your stocking for a few special bulbs and that the New Year brings only Blue ribbons and awards to you all.

CODS CORNERNewsletter of The Central Ohio Daffodil Society

VOL. XX, No. 1 JANUARY 1990

_.*]]]_fyl1-ls Hess. President _ Tag-Bourne, Editor

Dear Fellow CCIDS Menih-iere,

t have been sitting here wat,ching the Ejnow come down andreading the Journal. Convention 6eems so far away br:t will behere before we kn.:w it I It appears Jaydee has great plans foruB. Be Eure to get your reeervations in early.

I am secretly elad for the snow a6 it r.rill- be greatmulch for the daffs. With al I the cold weather moving in Ihad been worrying about a repeat of or-rr wiriter of " 83.

The catalogs from the Southern Hemiephere have beenarriving and a couple orders sent " Some of their new releaseesound terrif ic ! I heard f rom or-rr New Zealand members, Max andhin Kath are off to Scotland unti-I Christmas I99A! SLre won ateacher exchange and they leave on Boxing Day. Peter has beenmade head of the Education Dept at the tlnj-versity aa weII aSbeing chosen to do research wc,rk for' curriculum in prirnaryechools. And I thought I was busy.

Robin and David also had great 6ucce6s on the show benchmentioning that three of their 6ucce66e6 were with newreleases I It is alwaye 60 nice to hear of our friendsaccomplishments. Even better to be able to grow theirbeautiful "chi1dren". (The bulbs I planted last npring thatdid not come Hp, did 60 this fal}. I mulched them heavily forwinter. The final result being that I had tbfr% succe66 withthe "down-unders". ) Now---if they all bloom next year-

I want to thank Cindy for the great program onmini-atures. She has a fanatastic program planned for Feb.Clive PostLee slides will give you lots of ideas for orderingnew varieties I I think you will aLso really enjoy seeing howhe grows his daffodils.

room in your stocking for a few specialNew Year brings only Blue ribbons arrd

rd.e

/

e Santa founand that thto you al}.

I hopbulbeawards

CODS show will be at the Upper Arlington Municipal Services Center. We will have to get tables from St. Charles. We need a truck with driver to pick up these tables at Noon on Friday and return them back to St. Charles on Sunday evening. There will be a crew to load and unload the tables.

If you can volunteer yourself and your truck, please call Ruth Pardue, Show Chairman at 486-2775.

o

The CODS club order for Carncairn Daffodils will be co-ordinated by Nancy Kolson this year. By participating in the club order, you can save 1/3 of the regular price. Add 40Q per bulb for postage. For more information, contact Nancy Kolson, 22131 Delaware County Line Road, Marysville, Ohio 43040. The last day to participate in this club order is Saturday, April 7, 1990.

For a FREE copy of the Carncairn catalogue, send an Aerogram to:

Carncairn Daffodils, Ltd. Broughshane, Ballymena Co. Antrim Northern Ireland BT 43 7HF

- o -

Some members of CODS or their immediate family members have had some bad luck since the last CODS CORNER:

Wells Knierim had to have some surgery, but am happy to report that he came through fine and is doing great.

Nancy Kolson fell and broke her wrist. I offer her my sympathy since I know personnai how bad this break hurts.

Doris Emig fell and broke her ankle. She has to have it pinned, but is supposed to be dismissed from the hospital today.

Our President, Phyllis Hess, had to have some more eye surgery.

Naomi Liggett's husband, Jim, went down to Florida to get in a little golfing time and through a freak accident was run over by a golf cart. Jim's leg was broken in two places, plus his ankle had to be pinned. He's now getting out of the house and doing o.k.

I trust all of the above will be back to normal soon.

o

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

Mrs. Sue Hale, 6305 Sunbury Road, Westerville, OH 43081, Tele. No. 890-7075 Ms. Louise Dowden, 4214 Chaucer Court, Columbus, OH 43220, Tele. No. 451-3592

0

CODS show will be at the Upper Arlington Municipal Serviees Center.We will have to get tabl-es from St. Charles. We need a truck with driverto pic.k up these tabl-es at Noon on Friday and return them back to St. Charleson Sunday evening, There wil-l- be a crew to Load and unload Ehe tables.

If you can volunteer yourself and your truck, please call Ruth Pardue,Show Chairman at 486-2775,

-o-

The CODS club order for Carncairn Daffodl-ls will be co-ordinated by NancyKolson this year. By participating in the club order, you can save 1/3 of theregular price. Add 409 per bulb for postage. For more information, contaetNancy Kolson, 22L3L Delaware County Line Road, Marysville, Ohlo 43040. The lastday to partlcipate in this club order is Saturday, April 7n 1990.

For a FREE copy of the Carncairn catalogue, send an Aerogram to:

Carncairn Daffodils, Ltd.Broughshane, BallymenaCo. AntrimNorthern Ireland BT 43 7HF

-o-

Some members of CODS or their immediate farnily members have had some badluck since the last CODS CORNER:

Wel1s Knierirn had to have some surgery, but am happy to report that hecnme through fine an<i is doing great.

Nancy Kolson fell and broke her wrist. I offer her my sympathy since I knowpersonnalfyhow bad this break hurts.

Doris Emig fell and broke her ankle. She has tolianreit pinned, but issupposed to be dismlssed from the hospital today.

Our President, Phyllis Hess, had to have some more eye surgery.

Naomi Liggettrs husband, Jim, went down Eo Florida to get in a litt1e golfingtime and through a freak accident was run over by a goLf cart, Jimls Ieg was brokenin two pJ-aces, plus his ankle had to be pinned. Hers now getting out of the houseand doing o,k.

I trust a1l- of the above wil-l- be baek to normal soon.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS:

Mrs. Sue Hale, 6305 Sunbury Road, Westerville, 0H 43081, Te1e. No. 890-7075Ms, Louise Dowden, 42L4 Chaucer Court, Coh:mbus, 0H 4322A, Tele. No. 45L-3592

-o-

WAYS & MEANS REPORT

1989 BULB SALE

Bulbs were purchased for two collections of miniatures five cultivars, three each for sale at $11.50 each or both for $20.00. 200 of each cultivar were purchased making 132 collections. 100 each of six species were ordered to sell to CODS members. Twenty-six standard cultivars, 15 each were secured from Handy. Those not sold were returned with credit.

Springdale Daffodils Van Schaik McClure & Zimmerman Hatfield Gardens

611.25 257.40 197.45 715.50

$1781.60 Total Cost

Income from sale of bulbs $2745.14

PROFIT - $963.54 ($361.00 Standards)

This is CODS only fund-raiser, but the majority of the bulbs were sold by a very few members. Top saleperson was Ruth Pardue. Many thanks to her for all her efforts.

Top Salespersons Ruth Pardue - $749.25 Naomi Liggett - $514.70 ++ Lura Emig - $334.75 Nancy Gill - $284.00 Handy Hatfield - $214.00

CODS Member Bulb Sale was held in September with ten members donating bulbs. (Zwilling, Dietsch, Baird, Gripshover, Pardue, Hatfield, Hess, Emigs, Bourne, Liggett) 500 bulbs were sold to Mr. Corey, Chillicothe for $250.00. This sale was made by Dorris and Lura Emig.

TOTAL SALES MEMBER BULB SALE - $577.45

TOTAL PROFIT - $1540.99

Naomi Liggett, Chairman

-0-

Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of the Handbook For Growing. Exhibiting and Judging Daffodils at the next meeting, please let me know. Cost $7.00.

Naomi Liggett 451-4747

WAYS & MEANS REPORT

1 989 BULB SALE

Bulbs wene purchased for two collections of m'iniatures fivecultivars, three each for sale at $.l1.50 each or both for$20 . 00. 200 of each cu I t i var were purchased mak.ing 132collections. 100 each of six species were ordered io sel'l tocoDs members. Twenty-six standard cultivars, 15 each weresecuned from Handy. Those not sold were returned with credit.

Spr ingdale Daffodi lsVan SchaikMcClure & ZimmermanHatfield Gardens

61 1 . 25257 .401 97 .45715.50

$1781.60 Total Cost

I ncome from sal e of bu I bs $27 43 .14

PROFIT - $963.54 ($SS1.00 standards)

This is coDS only fund-raiser, but the majority of the bulbswene sold by a very few members. Top saleperson was RuthPardue. Many thanks to her for all her efforts.Top SalesoersonsRuth Pandue - $749.25Naomi L i ggett - $S 14,7O ++Lura Em'ig - $334.75Nancy G'i ll - 9284.00Handy Hatfield - $214.00

coDS Member Bulb sale was held in september w.ith ten membensdonating bulbs. (Zw'i 11inS, Dietsch, Baird, Gr.ipshoven,Pardue, Hatf i e I d, Hess, Em.igs , Bourne, L i ggett )500 bulbs were sold to Mr. Corey, Ch.i I I icothe for $250.00.This sale was made by Donris and Lura Emig.

TOTAL SALES MEMBER BULB SALE - $577.45

TOTAL PROFIT - $1540.99

Naomi Liggett, Chairman

-0-

Anyone wishing to purchase a copy of the Handbook ForGrowinq. Exhibit'inq and Judoinq oaffodils at the nextmeet j ng, p I ease I et me know. Cost $7 .00.

Naomi Liggett451-4747

Trillium grandiflorum

Bulbs to Avoid The World Wildlife Fund and the National Resources Defense Council urge gardeners to avoid these bulb species:

Amaryllis Family

Galanthus (snowdrops). G. eiwesii can always be assumed of wild origin. G. nivalis is widely propagated and safe to buy.

Leucojum (summer snowflake), especially L. vernum and L. aestivum.

Narcissus, especially N. triandrus var. albus, N. asturiensis, and N. cylamineus. Be cautious about all small species.

Sternbergia species.

Lily Family

Chionodoxa, especially C. sardensis, C. tmoli, and C. luciliae.

Erythronium, except for 'Pagoda', which is a propagated hybrid.

Fritillaria. Use caution when buying F. persica 'Adiyamen' and F. imperialis. Avoid others.

Lilium. Exercise caution with L. martagon.

Scilla species. Be cautious; many are still collected in Turkey.

Trillium, especially T. grandiflorum, Tulipa. Many tulips that have been called

"botanical" are really small cultivars and safe to buy. Avoid T. praecox.

Orchid Family

Bletilla striate. Pleione species. Cypripedium, especially C. acaule.

Primrose Family

Cyclamen. Buy only from those few U.S. dealers that propagate their stock.

Buttercup Family

Anemone. Blue or mixed stock of A. blanda may be from the wild.

Eranthis, especially the popular yellow-flowered E. hyemalis and E. cilicica.

Caution Urged When Buying Bulbs RAFFIC, the trade-monitoring arm of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), asks gardeners to make sure that any species bulbs they buy this fall

have been propagated, rather than collected from the wild.

A study WWF has conducted over the past two years in conjunction with the Natural Resources Defense Council shows that many bulb species are being endangered by collecting that is being done in both the United States and in foreign countries.

The Netherlands is the major producer and supplier of bulbs, but that country is likely to obtain collected bulbs from other countries, says WWF. Turkey is the major source of such bulbs as Galanthus (snow drops), Eranthus (winter aconites), Leucojum, and Sternbergia. Portugal is the major source of Narcissus bulbs.

Industry Response

The Netherlands FlowerBulb Information Center responded to the study results by saying that imports from Turkey represent less than one percent of Holland's annual production. Last year, of the 60 million flower bulbs that Holland imported from Turkey, 40 million were cultivated professionally on bulb farms and 20 million were taken from the wild.

Nevertheless, the Dutch growers and

interested in preserving wilct their own sake, it is in its longtei, to do so because these original bulb troy. types can be hybridized with existing varieties to produce new flowers," said Roland Boot, vice president of the North American Flowerbulb Wholesalers Association, an association of 36 import firms with close ties to the Dutch flower bulb industry.

The majority of bulbs commercially collected in the United States for export are Trillium, of which 13,000 were exported from April 1986 to April 1987. Thousands of Calochortus (mariposa lily) also leave the country, says WWF.

Trade Controls Needed

The foundation is asking horticultural groups to lobby for more accurate labeling of bulbs, and to support them in their call for monitoring of international bulb trade and support of research on commercial production of species bulbs.

More than 20 European countries, as well as China, Israel, South Africa, the USSR, and the United States, have passed laws to protect bulb species, but only Cyclamen and terrestrial orchids such as the lady's slipper are regulated internationally by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

In the past, the foundation has undertaken efforts to protect cacti, cycads, and to some extent, palms, said Jane MacKnight of WWF's plant program. They would like to do more to protect all North American wildflowers. Horticulturists are becoming increasingly concerned that carnivorous plants, such as the pitcher plant, are being endangered by collecting. Although the WWF staff is too small to make site visits to growers, that would be the ideal solution, said MacKnight, because it would protect both the plants and the dealers who are propagating bulbs.

"It's not in our interest to shut down legitimate growers," whose work serves to protect wild species, she said.

Some Safeguards

Buyers can never be 100 percent certain that the bulbs they buy have been propagated, but there are many indications that they have not.

Some bulbs are labeled "wild," "species," or "botanical," which should serve as a red flag that bulbs have been collected. (An exception is tulips, where "botanical"

exporters group agreed with WWF that the practice of collecting bulbs from the wild should be examined for its potential long-term impact. A release from their New York-based information center said that the Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries was arranging a meeting with Turkish authorities to discuss steps to ensure that endangered species are protected.

"Not only is the flower bulb industry

6 Po AMERICAN HORTICULTURIST • SEPTEMBER 1989

Caution Urged When BuyingBulbsRAI'FIC, the trade-monitoring armol the World Wildlife Fund (WWF),

asks gardeners to make sure thatany species bulbs they buy this fall

have been propagated, rather than collectedlrom the wild.

A study WWF has conducted over the pasttwo 1'ears in conjunction with the NaturalResources Defense Council shows that manybulb species are being endangered by

collecting that is being done in both theUnited States and in foreign countries.

The Netherlands is the major producerand suppher of bulbs, but that country islikely to obtain collected bulbs from othercountries, says WWF. Turkey is the majorsource of such bulbs as Golonlhus (snow

drops), Eranthus (winter aconites),

Leucojum, and, Sternbergio. Portugal is themajor source ofArorcissus bulbs.

lndustry Response

The Netherlands FlowerBuib InformationCenter responded to the study results bysaying that imports from Turkey representless than one percent of Holiand's annualproduction. Last year, of the 60 millionflorver bulbs thai Holiand imported fronrTurkey, 40 million were cultivatedprofessionally on bulb farms and 20 millionwere taken from the wild.

Nevertheless, the Dutch growers and

fillium grandillorun

exporters group agreed with WWF that thepractice ol collecting bulbs from the wildshould be examined for its potential long-

term impact. A release from their NewYork-based information center said that theNetherlands Ministry of Agriculture and

Fisheries was arranging a meeting withTurkish authorities to discuss steps toensure that endangored species areprotected.

"Not only is the flower bulb industry

interested in preserving wilotheir own sake, it is in its longter.to do so because these original bulb tror.

types can be hybridized ivith existingvarieties to produce new flowers," saidRoland Boot, vice president ol the NorthAmerican Flowerbulb WholesalersAssociation, an association of 36 importfrrms with close ties to the Dutch flowerbulb industry.

The majority of bulbs commerciallycollected in the United States for export are

Trillium, of which 13,000 were expoftedfrom April 1986 to April 1987. Thousands ofCalochortus (mariposa lilyl also lear,e the

= country, says WWF.

I Trade Controts Needed€ The foundation is asking horticultural

groups to lobby for more accurate labeling ofbulbs, and to support them in their call formonitoring of international bulb trade and

support of research on commercialproduction of species bulbs.

More than 20 European countries, as wellas China, Israel, South Africa, the USSR,

and the United States, have passed laws toprotect bulb species, but only Cyciamen andterrestrial orchids such as the lady's slipperare regulated internationaily by theConvention on International Trade inEndangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora (CITES).

In the past, the foundation has

undertaken efforts to protect cacti, c1,-cads.

and to some extent, palms, said JaneMacKnight of WWF's plant program. Thevwould like to do more to protect ail NorthAmerican wildflowers. Horticulturists are

becoming increasingly concerned thatcarnivorous plants, such as the pitcherplant, are being endangered by collecting.Although the WWF stafl is too small tomake site visits to growers, that would be

the ideal solution, said MacXnight. becauseit would protect both the plants and thedealers who are propagating bulbs.

"lt's not in our interest to shut dorvnlegrtimate growers," whose work ser\res t0protect wild species, she said.

Some Safeguards

Buyers can never be 100 percent certainthat the bulbs they buy have beenpropagated, but there are many indicationsthat they have not.

Some bulbs are labeled "wild," "species."

or "botanical," which should selve as a ledflag that bulbs have been collected. (An

exception is tulips, where "botanical"

Bulbs to AvoidIhe World Wildlile Fund and the National

Resources Delense Council urgegardeners to avoid these bulb species:

Amaryllis Family

Galanthus (snowdrops), G, elwesii canalways be assumed of wild origin. 6,nivalisis widely propagated and safe to buy.

Leucoj um (summer snowflake),especially L, vemum and L, aestivum,

Narcissuq especially N, triandrus va'.albus, N, asturiensis, and N, cylamineus,Be cautious about all small species.

Stembergia species,

Lily Family

Chionodoxa, especially C, ardensis, C,

tmoli, and C, luciliae.Erythronium, except lor tPagoda', which

is a propagated hybrid.Fritillaria, Use caution when buying F.

percica' Adiyamen' and F, inperialis.Avoid others.

Lilium, Exercise caution with l,martagon,

.ftilla species. Be cautious; many arestill collected in Turkey.

Trillium, especially T, grandiflorum,

Tulipa, Many tulips that have been called

"botanical" are really small cultivars and

safe to buy. Avoid L praeoox,

0rchid Family

Bletilla striata.

Pleione species,

Cypripediun, especially C, acaule,

Primrose Family

Cyclamen. Buy only lrom those lew U.S.

dealers that propagate their stock.

Buftercup Family

Anemone. Blue or mixed stock ol ;1,

blandamay be lrom the wild,Eranthi4 especially the popular yellow.

llowered E, hyenalis and E, cilicica,

e > Amnrcer Honncwruusr . Srmrusnn lg89

The Discrete Charm of Botanical Tulips The common conception of tulips is of the long-stemmed beauties with cup-shaped flowers that, unfortunately, tend to be somewhat short-lived. But the increasingly popular species cultivars known as botanicals can be a charming addition to the landscape. Bred to retain the characteristics of their wild parents, most are smaller than the common cultivars and have more lily-shaped blooms. They come in a fairly

narrow color range—red, yellow, white, and intermediate tints of those colors—but most are long-lived and will multiply like daffodils when left in the ground. They are ideal for the rock garden or naturalizing.

Aid-tough the word "botanical" can be a red tag that a plant was collected in the wild, this is not the case with botanical tulips, said Frans van Nimwegen, executive director of Internationaal Bloembollen Centrum of Hillegom, Holland, which represents the Dutch flower bulb industry.

"A species or botanical bulb is one that retains the characteristics of its native forbears," he explained. "For instance many species tulips that were once native to Turkey have been propagated and cultivated in Holland for centuries, yet still retain the characteristics they had in the wild."

One hundred percent of the species tulips sold by the Dutch are grown and propagated within the borders of Holland, van Nimwegen added. Therefore, consumers can rest assured that named hybrids of the following species have been propagated rather than collected from the wild:

Tulipa tarda has abundant, narrow, deep green foliage, and blooms early. Each stem has five to six golden yellow flowers that open to a star shape with a white tip. Four to five inches tall, it is a good ground cover.

T. turkestanica is an early flowering bulb eight to 10 inches tall, similar to tarda but

with more pointed pets! seven to nine flowers, v, cream with a black and narrow blue-green leaves, rapidly into compact grog

T. urumiensis, one of the 4 tulips at two to three inches tali, yellow flowers that open in the sun la. the season. It is less vigorous than other botanicals and may wear out easily.

Clockwise from upper left, T. wsensionsis, T. turkestanka, and T. *kin

T. kaufmanniana includes many cultivars of the so-called water lily tulip. Foliage may be solid blue-green or bear a chocolate stripe. Stems of the four- to eight-inch plants are short. Flowers open in sun early in the season to form an almost flat, hexagonal star. The inside of the flowers, except the plain red varieties, is generally brighter than the outside, which is often white. The open flowers present a contrasting yellow or black heart.

T. greigii cultivars have rigid stems and early-season, medium-sized flowers that open wide in the sun to reveal a deep colored, often black heart. Flowers are often spotted, and leaves are almost always purple-striped or marked. Bulbs prefer to be left in the ground to multiply naturally. This class includes 'Red Riding Hood', one of the most popular botanical tulips.

usually indicates a cultivar of a species.) A new twist, said Dr. Richard Lighty, director of the Mount Cuba Center for the Study of Piedmont Flora in Greenville, Delaware, is to label a plant "nursery grown." This may indicate only that the nursery has potted a collected plant and grown it on the premises for a year, he warned.

He and MacKnight urged buyers to ask more probing questions: If you didn't propagate it, who did? If you did propagate this species, how did you do it?

These are the sorts of questions posed by the New England Wildflower Society every three years when it updates its list of nurseries that propagate their own wildflowers. The society propagates and sells some 10,000 wildflower plants a year, said William Brumback, the society's propagator. The New England group, like the newer Mount Cuba, is conducting research to find better means of propagating these plants, while at the same time, educating the public to keep wild populations from being decimated.

Propagation Costly Lighty said that while there has been some success in propagating the double pink trillium, the single white Trillium ruiolilloruni takes at least live years to

grow. If grown from seed, it takes a year to germinate and as long as 10 to bloom. "We have to get to the point where we can compete in price with the people with the gunny sacks," Lighty said. Price is therefore another clue that a plant has been collected. "I would question whetherdhYone could sell a trillium or terrestrial orchid for less than five dollars," he said. . -

MacKnight said it is sometimes possible to spot collected bulbs, which tend to be smaller and more misshapen than those that have been commercially propagated. The same is true of the plants themselves, said Lighty. Collected plants tend to have more defects than those that have been propagated.

The American Horticultural Society offers a free list of nurseries that sell propagated wildflowers. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with your request. An extensive list of sources for specific plants that have been propagated, as well as some general information on the topic, can be obtained for $6.95, postage paid, by writing to Nursery Source List, New England Wildflower Society, Inc., Garden in the Woods, Hemenway Road, Framingham, MA 01701. For the complete report, "Trade in Bulbs," call the World Wildlife Fund at (202) 293-4800, or write to them at 1250 24th St. N.W., Washington, DC 20037.

AbOOUCAN IloancumIUST • SEPTIJOIFS 1989 4 7

7

usually indicates a cultivar of a species.) Anew twist, said Dr. Richard Lighty, directorof the Mount Cuba Cenber for the Study ofPiedmont Flora in Greenville, Delaware, isto label a plant "nursery grown.' This mayindicatc only that the nursery has potted acollected plant and grown it on the premises

for a year, he warned.He and Maclhight urged buyere tn ask

more probing questions: Ifyou didn'tpropagatc it, who did? Ifyou did propagatethis species, how did you do it?

These are the sorts ofquestions poEed bythe New England Wildflower Society everythree years when it updates its list ofnurseries that propagate their own*ildflowers. The society propagates and

sells some 10,000 wildflower plants a year,

said William Brumback, the society's

propagator. The New England group, likethe newer Mount Cuba, is conductingresearch to find better means of propagatingthese plants, while at the same time,educating the public to keep wildpopulatrons from being decinrated,

Propagation Coctly

Lrghty said that while there has been some

success in propagating the double pinktlillrunr, the single white ?ril/iurngntrtrlrllortrnt tirkcs ul lclst fivo ycflrs toglu*'. il grown lionr seed, it takcs u year' L.r

germinate and as long as 10 to bloom. "We

have to get to the point where we canc,-rmpele in price wiih the people with thegunny sacks," Lighty said. Price is thereforeanother clue that a plant has been collected.'l n'ould question whetheranyond could sella trillium or terrestrial orchid for less thanlive dollars," he said. . I

l!{acKnight said it is gometimes possible

to spot collected bulbs, which tend to be

smaller and more mieshapen than thosethat have been commercially propagated.The same is true of the plants themselves,said Lighty, Collected plants tend to have

more defects than those that have beenpropagated.

The American Horticultural Society ffirs a

l'ree lisl of nurseries that sell propagatedw ildflowers. I ncludc a self.addressed,

stamped enuelope with your request. Anextensiue list of sources for spciftt plantsthat haue been propagated, os well os sornegeneral information on tlw topic, can fuobtained for $6.95, postage paid, by writingto Nursery Source Lisl, New EnglandWildflower Sociely, Inc,, Gardtn in theWoods, Hemenway Road, Fromingham, ilIA01701. For tlw complete report,"Trade inBulbs," call the World Wildlife Fund at 002)293-4800, or write to them at 1250 24th St,N.W., Washington, DC 20037.

narrow color range-red, ycll-rw, white, andintermediate tints of those colors-but nrostare long-lived and will multiply likedaffodils when lefi in the grcund. The',' areideal for the rock garden or naturalizing.

. Alt}lough the word "botanical" can be a

'cdflftkthat a plant was collected in thewild, this is not the case with botanicaltulips, said'Frans van Nimwegen, executivedirector of Internationaal BloembollenCentrum of Hillegom, Holland, whichrepresents the Dutch flower bulb industry,

"A apecies or botanical bulb is one thatretains the characterislics of its nativeforbeare,'he explained. "For instance manyspecies tulips that were once native toTurkey have hen propagated and cultivatedin Holland for centuries, yet still retain thecharacteristics they had in the wild."

One hundred percent of the species tulipssold by the Duhh are grown and propagated

within the borders of Holland, vanNimwegen added. Therefore, consumers canrest assured that named hybrids of thefollowing species have been propagatedrather than collected from the wild:

Tulipa tardn has abundant, narrow, deepgreen foliage, and blooms early. Each stemhas Iive to six golden yellow flowers thatopen to a star shape with a white tip. Fourtl five inches tall, it is a good ground cover.

T. turhestanita is an early flowering bulbeight to l0 inches tall, similar bo lordo but

Ooctrhr lno upp hfi, f. r,tlailrlirf,f*dlrrrlnletltldl,Ft*,

T, kaufnanniana includee many cultivamof the sGcalled water lily tulip. Foliage may

be solid blue-green 0r b€ar a chocolate

stripe. Stems 0f the four- to eight-inchplants are short. Flowers open in sun earlyin the seaaorlto form an almost flat,hexagonal star. The inside ofthe flowers,

except the plain red varieties, is generally

brighter than the outside, which is often

white, The open flowers pres€nt Icontrasting yellow or black heart.

T. greigii cultivars have rigid stsms andearly-season, medium-sized flowers thatopen wide in the sun to reveal a deep

colored, often black heart. Flowers are oftenspotted, and leaves are almost alwayspurple-striped or marked. Bulbs prefer to be

left in the gTound to multiply naturally.This class includes'Red Riding Hood', one ofthe moet popular botanical tulips.

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The Disoete Charm of BotamicalTulipsThe common conception of tulips is of thelong-stemmed beauties with cup-shapedflowers that, unfortunately, tend tn be

somewhat short-lived, But the increaainglypopular species cultivars known as

botanicals can be a charming addition to thelandscape. Bred to retain the characteristicsof their wild parents, most are gmaller thanthe common cultivare and have more lily.shaped blooms. They come in a fairly

with more pointed petalseven to nine flowers, rcream with a blacl and rnarrow blue-green leaves,rapidly into comp*ct groul

T. urumiensis, one of the ltulips at two to three inches tal,, .

yellow flowers that open in the sun la,the eeason. It is leas vigorous than otherbotanicale and may wear out easily.

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