Fields of long-stem tulips, pots overflowing
with fragrant hyacinths and spectacular
fritillarias exploding out of fields of blue
muscari-like spring fireworks. These are the
images many gardeners have of flower bulbs.
However, to be a successful Orange County
gardener, we must remember where we live and
garden.
Yes, many northern, cold climate bulbs can be
grown here in our mild Mediterranean climate.
Like tropical fish in a heated aquarium or polar
bears fed special diets in the modified confines
of a zoo, with enough work and some losses along
the way, we too can cultivate the "poster
children" of the flower bulbs.
I suspect that, left to fend for themselves in
Orange County, polar bears and tropical fish
wouldn't last long. This might also be said for
most of the bulbs coming to Orange County from
the fields of northern Europe.
Today, over 9 billion flower bulbs are produced
each year in the Netherlands, and about 7
billion of them are exported, with the U.S.
being the largest consumer of Dutch bulbs.
For better or worse, we garden at latitude of 33
degrees. Our winters are mild, and our summers
are bone dry and warm. Our unique climate is not
remotely similar to that of the Netherlands,
where 80% of the world's tulips and hyacinths
are produced.
However, far from the Netherlands, there are a
few other parts of the world that have a nearly
identical Mediterranean climate to ours in
Orange County. One of those places is the
southwestern portion of South Africa, where over
1,400 species of bulbs, corms, tubers and
rhizomes flourish naturally, in a climate nearly
identical to that of Orange County.
As a gardener along the coast of Orange County,
it may be wise to consider a few of these
climate-appropriate bulbs. Unlike their more
famous northern cousins, many of the bulbs from
South Africa and parts of the Mediterranean
basin will thrive in our gardens.
Most Mediterranean bulbs will be smaller in
flower size, but will make up for it in their
ability to multiply and return each year, often
with no effort from the gardener.
Unfortunately, Mediterranean climate bulbs are
poorly represented in garden centers, discount
stores and home centers.
These are small bulbs; even at maturity they are
only a fraction of the size of the Dutch
specialties and are easily passed over.
Their names are foreign to most gardeners:
babiana, brodiea, calochortus, chasmanthe,
dichelostemma, ipheion, ixia, lachenalia,
leucojum, moraea, nerine, oxalis, scadoxus,
spiloxene, tritelleia, tritonia and urginia.
Here are just a few that you might find and that
I recommend.
Freesia: These plants of small stature are among
the most popular of the South African flower
bulbs and are ideally suited to local gardens.
Intensely fragrant, they are best used in the
front of beds or in pots where their flowers and
fragrance are best enjoyed.
The bulbs and plants are small, but inexpensive,
so mass large quantities closely together for
the best display.
Sparaxis: Related to freesias, but about twice
as tall at 14 inches, sparaxis are one of the
most colorful Mediterranean bulbs and will
naturalize in our gardens.
The brilliant star-shaped flowers — usually in
warm shades of orange, red, yellow, white,
purple or pink — are upward facing and look
especially at home under our bright, sunny
skies. Like freesias, be sure to pack the bulbs
close together for the best show.
Dutch iris: Iris represent a large group of
plants, ranging from alpine meadows to desert
edges. The popular group referred to as Dutch
iris have little to do with Holland.
Instead, they are a complex cross of several
wild species that grow in the arid parts of
Northern Africa, Portugal, Spain and southern
France, in climates much like ours.
Dutch iris are among the showiest of the bulbs
that will naturalize in our local gardens.
Easily tucked into most gardens because of their
tall, narrow, upright stems, they look terrific
planted in large wandering drifts or in pockets
of one to two dozen bulbs.
With almost no effort, they'll be back every
spring with a delightful display.
Tulip bakeri 'Lilac Wonder' and tulip clusiana
var. chrysantha: Yes, there are even a few
tulips that will grow easily here. These are not
the big, gaudy Dutch hybrids.
Mediterranean tulips are smaller, more delicate
in appearance and more relaxed in their
presentation. Growing wild in the Mediterranean
basin, in a climate almost identical to ours,
these are as easy as any bulb can be in Orange
County.
The dime-sized bulbs should be left in the
garden all year, where they will multiply at
will.
These are just a few of the hundreds of
little-known Mediterranean bulbs that can thrive
in our local gardens.
With almost no fussing by the gardener, these
will multiply and return for years to come. I
will warn you that only a few
Mediterranean-climate bulbs will be found on the
shelves of gardens centers, pushed aside by the
multitudes of more familiar Dutch imports.
If you get hooked on warm-climate bulbs, as I
am, you will need to feed your passion through
mail-order or through groups such as the Pacific
Bulb Society (www.pacificbulbsociety.org).
Your garden awaits.
Can you please tell me how to eradicate
out-of-control morning glory?
PATTY
Costa Mesa
I suspect you're talking about the common blue
flowered Ipomoea acuminata, a fast-growing and
rampant perennial vine. I have found that it is
not especially hard to eliminate; it's just a
big, dirty job.
The roots can be dug out pretty easily, but you
will need to go about 10 to 12 inches below the
soil line to avoid re-sprouting.
Alternatively, if in a confined area, the vine
can be cut to the ground, allowed to re-sprout
about four or five feet and then sprayed with
Roundup, following the label directions.
ASK RON
your toughest gardening questions, and the
expert nursery staff at Roger's Gardens will
come up with an answer. Please include your
name, phone number and city, and limit queries
to 30 words or fewer. E-mail stumpthegardener@
rogersgardens.com, or send to Plant Talk at
Roger's Gardens, 2301 San Joaquin Hills Road,
Corona del Mar, CA 92625.
