ORNAMENTAL PLANTS OF HORTICULTURE VALUE

Selection of perennials

About 12-18 species in Europe and Western Asia. According to Russian botanists 12 species in the FSU. Some are well-known garden plants. Among them are the Russian plants G. nivalis L. and G. plicatus Bieb. Some species are rare in cultivation.

G. caucasicus (Baker) Grossh.

Caucasus (the Greater Caucasus). In mountain forests.

Bulb 2.5-4.0 cm long, 1.5-2.0 cm in diam. Leaves linear, dark green, 4-8 cm, after flowering 10-18 cm long. Scape 5-6 cm. Flowers 1.7-2.5 cm long and 0.8-1.5 cm wide, with green spot around notch. V - early spring to late spring. Fl - early spring for 10 days. Fr - late spring. P - easy by daughter bulbs (2-3 per mother bulb). Can grow in shady site. Good for group planting for spring decoration. Z 4. New.

G. platyphyllus Traub et Moldenke

Caucasus (the Greater Caucasus). In alpine and subalpine zones.

Bulb 4-5 cm long and 2.5-3.5 cm diam. Leaves dark green, 15-17 cm x 1.0-1.7 cm, after flowering 20-30 cm x 3.0-3.5 cm. Scape 10-20 cm, flowers 3 cm long, 2 cm wide, drooping. V - early spring to beginning of summer. Fl - mid spring (May in St. Petersburg). Fr - one month later. P - by daughter bulbs and by seed. Requires dry soil and a sunny position. Good for spring decoration. Z 4. New.

G. woronowii Losinsk.

Western Transcaucasus and northern Turkey. Foothills, in forests.

Bulb 2-3 cm longand 2.0-2.5 cm in diam. Leaves bright green, 12-15 cm, after flowering 18-22 cm long, 1.2 cm wide. Scape 10-15 cm, flowers 2.5 cm long, 2 cm wide, petals with notch and green spot. V - early spring to beginning of summer, about three months in the wild (Batumi) and two months in cultivation (St. Petersburg, Moskow). Fl - early spring (April in St. Petersburg) about 10 days. Fr - one month later. P - easy by daughter bulbs (3-4 per specimen). Can grow in partially shaded site. Good for group planting for spring decoration. Z 4. New.