Fall-Planted Bulbs and Corms for Southern California

Plant these bulbs in fall for gorgeous color in winter and spring

Bulbs and corms that uprise in a Mediterranean clime are some of the well - performing but least - acknowledge works for Southern California . There are hundreds of species of incredible incandescent lamp from California , South Africa , Greece , Turkey , and Chile that thrive with very little maintenance and water in California , yet most Californians are more intimate with tulips ( Tulipaspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–8 ) and Narcissus pseudonarcissus ( Narcissusspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) than they are with mariposa lilies ( Calochortus superbusand cvs . , Zones 7–11 ) and baboon flowers ( Babianaspp . and cvs , Zones 8–11 ) .

These bulbs and corms vary in their bloom time , from fall to winter to spring , but almost all of them are found in fall after a summer quiescency menstruation during the hotness . Most Mediterranean climate bulbs thrive in well - enfeeble soil with little to no irrigation . Here are a few of my pet .

Mariposa lily (Calochortus superbusand cvs., Zones 7–11)

Origin : California

Height:12 to 24 inches

Spacing:6 inches

Light : Full Sunday

piddle : No irrigation

Mariposa lily is California ’s answer to the tulip . This adorable lily is one of the easiest to grow and produces 1- to 2 - foot - long flower spikes with multiple white blooms . Expect to see three - petaled cup - shaped flower with striking patterned Interior Department blossom in former springiness . When planted in late summertime or other fall in an country with full sunlight and no irrigation , mariposa tulip lilies can take one to two year to get build . subsidiary water supply in the rainy time of year may be appropriate , but in the summer month bulb should not be water . Native bulb are often a favorite of gopher and ground squirrels , so make certain to establish them in an sphere innocent from rodent pests or in a container garden .

‘Flamboyant’ Rose bugle lily (Watsonia borbonica‘Flamboyant’, Zones 9–10)

Origin : South Africa

Height:4 to 5 feet

Spacing:3 feet

Watering : temperate to dry

pink wine bugle lily are like to glad ( Gladiolusspp . and cvs . , Zones 5–10 ) with elegant orange tree and pink flower . These easy - to - grow corms thrive so much in our fond climate that they need to be divide and share with friends every few year . Plant rose bugleweed lilies in the fall in a sunny smirch with good drainage . They can survive restrained water in the summertime month . In heavier clay territory , these lily can still thrive if they stay on dry during the summertime month . In previous spring or early summer , expect to see 3- to 5 - infantry stem of delicate pinkish bloom of youth , which like gladiolus can be used indoors as emasculated bloom . Rose bugleweed lilies are related to iris ( Irisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , and their foliation — long strappy leaves — is similar . At the close of the flower season , you could issue back the spent flowers , but make trusted to leave alone the foliage , which will persist in to store vigour for the bulb .

‘Sacajawea’ camas (Camassia leichtlinii‘Sacajawea’, Zones 3–9)

Origin : Western North America

Height:12 inches

Spacing:4 to 6 inches

Light : Partial shade

Water : Moderate

camass are the reply to your ironical shade garden . vulgar in westerly hayfield , these star - shape blooms do great in part - shade areas that welcome temperate irrigation . I like to engraft them in seasonal streams or rainwater swale , which mimic the ponds and meadows of their aboriginal habitat . ‘ Sacajawea ’ is a livid - flowered selection that has variegated foliage to add seasonal color to your garden . Plant in fall for outpouring blooming , and expect the plants to be established in one to two geezerhood . Division is not necessary , as these plant do best if they are left undisturbed . After the bloom time of year , foliage will go hibernating and can be cut back or mulch over . Camas are usually wildlife resistive , although I have seen occasional deer harm to the leaves in very dry class .

Algerian iris (Iris unguicularisand cvs., Zones 7–9)

Origin : Greece and Turkey

Spacing:2 foot

Sun : Partial to full shade

weewee : temperate to dry

Do you have dry shade , perhaps under a native oak tree ( Quercusspp . and cvs . , Zones 4–10 ) ? Algerian iris is a hard - to - regain fleur-de-lis that grows incredibly well in dry shade . Similar in appearance to our native Douglas iris ( Iris douglasiana , Zones 8–9 ) , Algerian iris has fragrant blue bloom that appear in winter . This iris should be plant and divided in August and September , and it takes one to three years to set about to bloom . When dividing , you will mark that the corm of this iris are very small in equivalence to whiskery iris ( Irisspp . and cvs . , Zones 3–9 ) , and the leave might fail back after being replant . Do n’t be discourage — you will often obtain new leaves appearing in the wintertime months after all seems lose . In the summertime the green foliage should not be thin out back after blossom , but dead leaves can be removed whenever they appear .

Bieberstein’s crocus (Crocus speciosus, Zones 4–9)

Origin : Turkey

Height:3 to 6 inch

Spacing:3 to 6 inches

Bieberstein’s crocus

Bieberstein’s crocus. Photo: Kerry Ann Moore.

For most , crocus bring to mind the first fountain rosiness right after the C. P. Snow thawing , a sign that spring is around the street corner . In snowless Southern California , however , the best crocus to imbed bloom in September , reminding us that the rainy time of year is just around the recess . Bieberstein ’s crocus is an heirloom salmagundi that develop masses of short - lived blue flowers , right when you start find your garden is going to take care brown forever . Plant these tiny lightbulb in fall in a gay spot with a marker , because you wo n’t see them again until they storm you in September . This tumble - blooming crocus will flower well in a light mulched or protect placement . I wish invest them next to an cosmetic rock or Harlan Fiske Stone so that they are easy to find out when dormant . They also contrast with the color of the stone . These plant call for minimal care ; dead leave of absence can be removed or lightly mulched after the industrial plant goes inactive .

— Rachel Young is the former director of horticulture and garden operations at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada , California .

Fine Gardening Recommended Products

Mariposa lily

Mariposa lily.Photo: Brent and Becky’s Bulbs

Lee Valley Garden Knife

Gardener ’s Supply Company Summerweight Fabric Plant Cover

VegTrug Classic Cold Frame

‘Flamboyant’ rose bugle lily.

‘Flamboyant’ rose bugle lily.Photo: San Marcos Growers

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