Every year we search for the rare bulb that is hard to find, highly sought after, and will surprise you. Among the new offerings in our spring catalogue this year, we have uncovered some gems for you.
Pleione forrestii: The lemon-yellow flowers of this terrestrial orchid reveal a subtle spicy fragrance. Hardy down to -5°C, it can be grown in a pot or in a shady rockery, protected.
Arisaema sikokianum: This is the earliest species of the genus and undoubtedly one of the most graceful.
Calanthe discolor: Native to the Japanese mountains, this terrestrial orchid with evergreen foliage is quite hardy in our woodlands. It is hardy down to -12°C.
Sanguinaria canadensis Flore Pleno: This small perennial groundcover reveals magnificent double flowers of immaculate white. Its stump suckers in rich, cool, and light soils.
A rare plant is not always synonymous with "uncultivable plant"; rare bulbs are not necessarily the hardest to grow, they are rare due to their shape, cross-breeding, colour, fragrance... But all possess a touch of originality. They do not like excess: not too much shade, sun, wind, water, or dryness.
The ideal conditions for growing them long-term are to have light, cool soil rich in humus with a neutral or acidic tendency. They should ideally be planted in a shady rockery or in a bed facing north or west, against the wall of the house, with the soil amended with compost.
Rest assured, if you do not have these conditions, rare bulbs adapt very well to pot cultivation; in fact, the more tender varieties will be exclusively planted in pots. Just be careful not to overwater them during dormancy, as they do not tolerate excess water. A tip: when planting, place your bulb on a bed of 5cm of gravel or sand to ensure good drainage and promote longevity.
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