Leucocoryne coquimbensis – (Glory of the Sun)

Description

Picture thanks to www.chileflora.com

This bulbous plant has beautiful fragrant flowers  which are blue or violet ( and sometimes white)   at the edge of the petal , shading to white  in the centre with yellow stamenoides. It makes a lovely long lasting cut flower ( grown in Holland to supply the cut flower industry), and is a pretty  garden flower which is not often found in our gardens here. It is a winter growing plant, which should be grown in the full sun. It likes rich, well fertilised moist soil and coolish temperatures – about 10 – 18 deg C. It seems to do well when given a hot summer when it will be dormant.

Sowing advice

Sow in autumn and early spring. Sow in trays or pots. Soak the seeds in water for 3 days. Then surface sow onto moist, well-drained seed  raising mix., cover lightly with mix.  Water the seeds often for the first 15 days . Ideal temp.  4 – 12°C.  Cover the tray with clear plastic or glass to conserve moisture.  Germination takes 15-45 days approx. Take the plastic off as soon as the first seed germinates.