Moraea - Part 5

But, in cooler climates, regardless of your good drainage I would play it safe and keep the corms dry when dormant. Plants if over watered can rot.

Again, by growing from seed, and finding more than just one source, you are allowing for genetic diversity in what you grow. Nature is very adaptive.

Moraea algoensis a smallish grower to 40cm. This is essentially a species from the winter rainfall regions. Flowers on this can be pale to dark violet. Flowers from late July into September.

Moraea verecunda is a small plant from 15-20cm tall. It has a solitary leaf to 25cm long. The deep yellow nectar guides set off the deep violet blue of the flower. This species has only been known since 1930. Flowering time is for a month from mid October.

Moraea polystachya is a fairly large one, up to 80cm tall. The soft yellow to orange nectar guides set off the pale blue to violet flowers. Flowering now, which means late fall and into winter. This is a very easy garden subject and is rewarding to try. This rewards you in cultivation with many flowers. Yes, the flowers, the individual flowers last for but a day on most Moraea, but they reward your efforts with repeat flowering. Seed set on this here is awesome, young plants coming up in the most unexpected places. The flowering period on this lasts for some eight weeks.

Moraea speciosa ranges in height from 40-75cm. The individual flowers on this are quite large. The yellow nectar guides compliment the mauve to pale medium blue flowers, off set with yellow pollen. Flowers here from July into September. This responds well to dryer growing conditions. Peter Goldblatt writes that he has maintained for years this species in a pot, though his plants are rather small in the container compared to the ones in habitat.

It is not my intention to list all the Moraea you could grow for this would be too tiresome both for you the reader and I.

Moraea ciliata is 20-40 cm. Flowers violet lilac purple. Flowering in September to October.

Moraea exiliflora is a small grower between 15-25 cm. A somewhat inconspicuous bloomer with it's small pale white, sometimes pale violet flowers opening late in the day. Flowers October.

Moraea inclinata is a strange leaner, which is how you can easily recognise this species by its long and slender stem having its single leaf inserted well above the ground near the stem apex. This summer flower

The copyright of the article Moraea - Part 5 in Alpines and Bulbs is owned by Gary Buckley. Permission to republish Moraea - Part 5 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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