ARTICLES

Forcing Small Bulbs To Bloom

Erythronium, Camassia, Iris reticulata and Ipheion uniflorum

These small flowering bulbs

normally bloom in late

spring, but can be

persuaded to flower early so

a breath of spring can be

enjoyed in the cold winter.

These delightful small flowering bulbs are seldom forced...

Aside from the common plants forced into early flower in the spring, there are a number of other, less common small flowering bulbs also suitable for forcing.

Among these are the Dog's Tooth Violets and a few other relatives which all normally bloom in late spring.

Dog's Tooth Violet

Erythronium dens-canis, the Dog's Tooth Violet, has been given this name because the long, shiny white tuberous roots are thought to resemble dog's teeth. It is a woodland plant found throughout Europe and Asia. In gardens, it is a valued spring bulb. It can also be taken in for early spring forcing.

It sends its characteristic leaves up through the soil in early spring and, when it becomes a little warmer, flower stems appear from the center. In only a short time they send their sweetly nodding flowers up to meet the sky. The flowers will last for a couple of weeks, depending on the weather. Cooler temperatures mean longer-lasting blooms and this is worth remembering when persuading them to flower early in the home.

Indoor forcing

Dig up a few small bulbs on a mild day in early spring and plant them in a pot. It is best to wait until they have produced their first tiny shoots. Place the pot in a warm, bright spot out of the direct sunlight and, in the space of a few weeks, the leaves will grow. The flowers should appear after another 1-2 weeks. Place the pot in a cool position and the flowers may last for 3-4 weeks. Once flowering is over, the bulbs can be planted back in the garden.

Quamash with small, blue stars

Another quite different, flowering bulb can be taken in for early forcing. This is Camassia, or Quamash. It is quite decorative, especially when grown in groups in large shallow pots. It does not like to be disturbed very often, so transplanting from ground to pot and back is not a good idea. Plant some permanently in pots instead. Plants can be sunk in the garden complete with bulbs, when flowering is over.

Camassia increases easily by offset bulbs

which can be removed about every 3-4 years.

In only a few years there will be a whole

group of bulbs which flower as one

wonderful bouquet. The leaves are broad

and lily-like and grow in a rosette. The

light or dark blue, star-shaped flowers

grow in upright clusters at the ends of

tall stems.

Take the bulbs indoors in mid-February

for early forcing. Place them in a bright,

warm spot out of the direct sunlight and,

in a short while, the first green shoots

should appear. Keep the soil moist. From

now on it takes only a surprisingly short

time before the first flower buds show from

the center of the leaves.

The Spring Iris--a true bulbous Iris

Iris reticulata, the Spring Iris, is a rather small plant about 8-10 inches tall. It is very pretty in the garden with its colorful blooms in the spring months around mid-April and

early May. It is a bulbous Iris which requires the same culture as any other member of this group. It is quite hardy and can survive even in the coldest areas.

The narrow, pointed, stiff, leaves grow in early spring. They make a fine protective circle around the large, blue fragrant flowers which appear later.

Erythronium americanum has yellow flowers, darker on the outside.

Forcing

To force these bulbs into early flowering, plant them in a pot

of sandy soil in the fall. Bury the pot in the garden and cover

it with leaves or straw until late January or the beginning of February. Take it up and place it in a bright, warm room or hot-house.

After a couple of weeks, the first green shoots will appear and

the plant should be watered regularly during the rest of its

growth. The first delightful blooms will arrive in March with

their fine fragrance and lovely colors. They will give just as much pleasure as their cousins, which bloom a couple of

months later.

Ipheion is a charming dwarf

Ipheion uniflorum, the Spring Starflower, is a charming little flowering bulb with white to pale blue star-like blooms and masses of grass-like leaves. The plant has an onion-like fragrance when bruised. In the garden, it normally blooms in April. Indoors, it can easily be made to flower as early as February.

The name uniflorum means that there is only

one flower on each stem, but each bulb can

send up several stems, so there are always

plenty of flowers.

The bulbs should be placed one inch apart in

coarse, gritty soil with good drainage. They

will look lovely and thrive in a rock garden if

covered in the winter. They should be planted

in September and will offset easily, producing

several at a time. If the bulbs are planted in

pots and placed in a bright, unheated shed or

greenhouse, they can be taken indoors in very early spring and enjoyed in bloom. After-

wards, the same bulbs can be planted out in the garden, where they will bloom the following year.