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| Tecophilaea
cyanocrocus is also known as the
Chilean Crocus (though it is not closely
related to members of the genus Crocus). |
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I
bought my bulbs of Tecophilaea cyanocrocus from
"Buried Treasure" nursery in
Wales. I
have also grown it from seed, when it takes 3 - 4
years to flower.
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flowers in February - April, with bright blue
flowers and linear deep green leaves, about 3 - 4
inches (70 - 100 mm) high.
(Photos
here were taken on "Snowdrop Day", 14
February 2015)
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I
feed the plants in spring and then, as it needs
hot and dry conditions, I keep the pots in
the alpine house all summer.
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In
September I would sort out the larger bulbs and
re-pot them in an open compost. I keep the pots
dry all winter and start watering when the first
signs of leaves appear. |
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I
hope for a good display for the show-bench at the
A.G.S. shows in April. |
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| Tecophilaea
was named for Tecophila Billotti, botanical artist
and daughter of the Italian botanist who found
this plant in 1836, It is from high, dry, stony
slopes in the Andes near Santiago in Chile. It was
for some time thought to be extinct in the wild,
due to overcollecting, but was rediscovered in
2001 on private land south of Santiago. |
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