BULBS, CORMS, TUBERS & RHIZOMES.
AMARYLLIS.
Amaryllis belladonna: Belladonna Lily - Naked Lady - Jersey Lily.
BOTANICAL NAME: Amaryllis belladonna: Common Name - Belladonna Lily. A small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, A. is a native of the Western Cape region of South Africa, particularly the rocky southwest area. For many years there was confusion amongst botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name "amaryllis" is mainly used for cultivars of the genus Hippeastrum. Plants of the genus Amaryllis are known as belladonna lily, Jersey lily, naked lady, amarillo or, in South Africa, March lily due to its propensity to flower around March. Photographs show Belladonna Lilies growing wild in the Waiarohia Reserve, Whangarei.
BEGONIA.
BEGONIA tuberosa Hybrids: Tuberous begonia.
BOTANICAL NAME : Begonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Begoniaceae. It is a genus that has been hybridised and cultivated widely with many colours of B. tuberosa. They do very well in sun & part shade. Some pendula varieties can be used in hanging baskets. Other members of the family Begoniaceae are Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in Hawaii, and the genus Symbegonia, a more recent inclusion in the genus. "Begonia" is the common name as well as the generic name for all members of the genus.
CANNA.
Canna lutea X indica Hybrids: Canna or Canna Lilly.
BOTANICAL NAME: Canna hybrids: Common Name Canna Lily. A genus of nineteen species of flowering plants in the family Cannaceae. It is the only genus in the family Cannaceae.
The species have large, attractive foliage and horticulturists have hybridised it by crossing the yellow G. lutea and rosy-pink C. indica, turning it into a large-flowered and bright garden plant. Canna is one of the world's richest starch sources, and is grown as an agricultural crop. Although a plant of the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in Northland, New Zealand. The name Canna originates from the Celtic word for a cane or reed. Photographs taken outside the new Police Station in Whangarei.
The species have large, attractive foliage and horticulturists have hybridised it by crossing the yellow G. lutea and rosy-pink C. indica, turning it into a large-flowered and bright garden plant. Canna is one of the world's richest starch sources, and is grown as an agricultural crop. Although a plant of the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in Northland, New Zealand. The name Canna originates from the Celtic word for a cane or reed. Photographs taken outside the new Police Station in Whangarei.
DAHLIA.
Dahlia imperialis: Tree Dahlia.
BOTANICAL NAME: Dahlia imperialis: Common Name - Tree Dahlia. An member of the Dahlia genus that grows up to 10 metrea tall. It is native to Mexico, Central America and Colombian uplands and mountains, occurring at elevations of 1,500–1,700 metres (4,900–5,600 ft). Its leaves are used as a dietary supplement by the Q'eqchi' people of San Pedro Carchá Guatemala. It is a quick growing, tuberous, herbaceous perennial, developing brittle, cane-like, 4-angled stems with swollen nodes and large tripinnate leaves, those near the ground soon being shed. The pendant or nodding flowerheads are 75-150mm across with ray florets lavender or mauvish-pink in colour. It flowers in the autumn before the first frost. Propagation is by seed or by stem cuttings of some 30 cm (12 in) long having at least two nodes, laid horizontally below the soil.
Dahlia hybrids: Dahlia. (See Also Bedding Dahlias under Annuals)
BOTANICAL NAME: Dahlia, which is also the common name. A genus of bushy, tuberous, perennial plants native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. A member of the plant family Asteraceae or Compositae or in other words belonging to the large family of garden plants which includes the sunflower, daisy, chrysanthemum and zinnia. There are about 36 species of dahlia that have been hybridised to ptoduce garden plants. Flower forms vary, from bedding Dahlias to large single head blooms. The dahlia was declared the national flower of Mexico in 1963. Photographs taken in the Sub-tropical Garden in Whangarei.
Dahlia Hybrid Bedding: Unwins Ideal Bedding.
BOTANICAL NAME: Dahlia variabilis, common name - Bedding Dahlia. These short bedding varieties (less than 1.5 feet tall) are also used as border or edging plants. Unlike most other Dahlias, they are grown from seed and treated like annual flowers. Plantings usually produce a mixture of flower colours. Photographs show bedding Dahlias growing in the traddic islands in Bank Street above the courts in Whangarei New Zealand. Unwins Ideal Bedding Mix is a dwarf selection with semi-double flowers and an upright growth habit. It has been very popular with local body councils in New Zealand for many years, with colours ranging from white and yellow through to rink, red, and bronze. Photographs taken in Bank Street, Whangarei.
EUCOMIS.
Eucomis species and hybrids. Pineapple Flower.
BOTANICAL NAME: Eucomis species: Common Name - Pineapple Flower, Pineapple Lilly, Wine Eucomis. A genus of flowering plants in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Most species of this genus are commonly referred to as pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies. They are easily grown, bulbous rooted perennials from Africa, with basal rosettes of leaves with stout stems covered in star-shaped flowers, similar to those of the pineapple - hence the common names. Very suited to Northland, as they like a sunny fryidh spot. The flower spikes last about four weeks or more. Photographs taken in the Subtropical Quarry Gardens and botanica, First Avenue, Whangarei. Most commonly grown species is Eucomis comosa (Eucomis punctata).
FREESIA.
BOTANICAL NAME: Freesia species or hybrid. Common Name, Freesia. A genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described as a genus in 1866. It is native to the eastern side of southern Africa, from Kenya south to South Africa, most species being found in Cape Province. The plants commonly known as "freesias", with fragrant funnel-shaped flowers, are cultivated hybrids of a number of Freesia species. Some other species are also grown as ornamental plants. They grow very well in Northland, and can be seen growing under hedfes etc, in Whangarei.
GLADIOLUS.
Gladiolus species: Sword Lilies.
BOTANICAL NAME: Gladiolus species: Common Name - Sword Lilies. A genus of about 200 species of perennial bulbous flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. Although commonly called the 'Sword lily', it is even more commonly known by the plural of its generic name Gladioli. The genus is distributed in Mediterranean Europe, Asia, Tropical Africa and South Africa. A handful of these species have been used in the development of a wide number of cultivars available today. Photographs taken in Maunu Road, Whangarei.
HIPPEASTRUM.
Hippeastrum species & Hybrids: Knight's Star Lilly - Amaryllus
BOTANICAL NAME: Hippeastrum species Hybrids: Common Name - is a genus of about 90 species and over 600 hybrids and cultivars of perennial bulbous plants. They generally have large fleshy bulbs and tall broad leaves, generally evergreen, and large red or purple flowers. Hippeastrum is a genus in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas from Argentina north to Mexico and the Caribbean The name Hippeastrum, "Knight's-star-lily", For many years there was confusion among botanists over the generic names Amaryllis and Hippeastrum, one result of which is that the common name "amaryllis" is mainly used for cultivars of this genus. By contrast the generic name Amaryllis applies to bulbs from South Africa, usually grown outdoors, and do not show foliage when in flower, hence the common name Naked Ladies. Reproduction is generally by cross-pollination and Hippeastrum may be propagated by seed or offset bulblets. The genus has been intensely bred and cultivated since the early nineteenth century to produce large colourful showy flowers. They do not like frost but are well suited to the subtropical climate of Northland NZ. Photographs taken in Whangarei.
IRIS.
Iris species: Iris.
BOTANICAL NAME: Iris species and cultivars: Common Name - Iris. A genus of 260–300 species of flowering plants crowing from a creeping rhizome. As well as being the scientific name, iris is also very widely used as a common name for all Iris species, though some plants called thus belong to other closely related genera. Irises are perennial plants, some species are bulbous. They have long, erect flowering stems which may be simple or branched. The rhizomatous species usually have 3–10 basal sword-shaped leaves growing in dense clumps. The bulbous species have cylindrical, basal leaves. Photographs taken in Whangarei.
LEUCOJUM.
BOTANICAL NAME: Leucojum vernum. Common Name Spring Snowflake. Another species is Summer Snowflake or Loddon Lily (Leucojum aestivum). Both species are bulbous plants belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. They are the only species currently classified in the genus Leucojum. The spelling Leucoium is sometimes used. Snowflakes are native to central and southern Europe, from the Pyrenees to Romania and western Russia. They have been introduced and have naturalized in many other areas, including New Zealand. Leaves are narrow, strap-like, dark green, with small bell-shaped flowers, white with a green (or occasionally yellow) spot at the end of each tepal. They have a slight fragrance. L. vernum (Spring snowflake) normally grows 15-20 cm tall (6-8 in), though it may reach up to 35 cm (14 in). It flowers in winter. Leucojum aestivum (Summer snowflake) has a wider natural range, taking in Europe (including the British Isles), southwest Asia and northern Iran, and growing in wetter habitats including damp woodland, riversides and swamps. Despite its common name it flowers colder weather, though later than the Spring Snowflake. It is a taller plant than L. vernum, growing to around 60 cm (2 ft), but its flowers are smaller
LILIUM.
Lilium species: True Lilies - Christmas Lilies.
BOTANICAL NAME: Lilium (members of which are true lilies) A genus of herbaceous flowering plants grown from bulbs, all with large prominent flowers. Lilies are a group of flowering plants which are important in culture and literature in much of the world. Most species are native to the temperate northern hemisphere, though their range extends into the northern subtropics. Many other plants have "lily" in their common name but are not related to true lilies. True lilies flower at Christmas, hence the common name Christmas Lilies.
NARCISSUS.
Narcissus asteriensis: Daffodil.
BOTANICAL NAME: Narcissus asteriensis and species: Common Name - Daffodil. A genus of spring-flowering, bulbous perennials in the subfamily Amaryllidoideae. They are native to Europe, North Africa, West Asia, mainly the Western Mediterranean. There are a number of distinct species, but Daffodil is generally a single headed flower, Jonquil is a multi-headed flower. There is a great deal of cultivation and hybridization of the species and some natural hybridization between species. The number of defined species ranges from 26 to more than 60, depending on the authority. Species and hybrids are widely used in gardens and landscapes. They prefer colder climates, but will grow and flower north of Auckland. The flower has become the symbol of the Cancer Society.
OPHIOPOGON.
Ophiopogon japonicas variegatus: Mondo Grass - Fountain Plant - Monkey Grass
BOTANICAL NAME: Ophiopogon japonicas variegatus: Common Name - Mondo Grass, Fountain Plant, Monkey Grass. A variegated foliage form of aspecies of Ophiopogon native to China, Vietnam, India, and Japan. O japonicus is an evergreen, sod-forming perennial plant. The leaves are linear, 20–40 cm long. The flowers are white to pale lilac, borne in a short raceme on a 5–10 cm stem. The fruit is a blue berry 5 mm diameter. The roots are large stolens with tuberous roots. Photographs taken in Botanica, Second Avenue, Whangarei. Used as an indoor pot plant drom Auckland further south. Used mainly as a border or edging plant.
Ophiapogon japonicas: Mondo Grass.
BOTANICAL NAME: Ophiapogon japonicas. Common Name - Mondo Grass. The green or natural form of the above plant. Used in Asia as an ornamental border or edging. Photograph left shows the blue berry (fruit). Photographs taken outside Whangarei RSA, showing the effective ornamental lawn popular in Japan..
Ophiopogon planiscapus: Nakai (Japan).
BOTANICAL NAME: Ophiopogon planiscapus. Common Name - Nakai (Japan). A species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. Grows up to 20 cm (8 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in)wide, from short rhizomes, and bears tufts of grasslike leaves, from which purple or white flowers emerge in racemes held on short stems above the leaves. It is native to Japan, where it grows on open and forested slopes. The cultivar 'Nigrescens' (black mondo or black lilyturf - pictured) is grown as groundcover. Its leaves turn from green to dark purple (black). The flowers are white to pale lilac. This plant is commonly used in rock gardens or raised beds as an ornamental plant; owing to its dwarf qualities it can be lost in borders. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. There is also a variegated form 'Little Tabby'. This is green with white borders to the leaves. These cultivars are often used as potted plants to provide an edging between species in show glasshouses such as the Auckland Domain's Winter Gardens Cool House & Tropical House.
SPIRAXIS.
BOTANICAL NAME - Spiraxis tricolor, Common Names - Wandflower, Spiraxia, Sporaxis, or Harlequin Flower. A native of South Africa, that grows very well in Northland, and is bordering on a wildflower in some areas. Need a sunny well-drained position, they are excellent for growing on grassy banks or in lawns, along with freesias. Good as a rock garden or container plant. Flowers in Spring, in colours of Red, Cream, orange, each shade with black geometrical markings. Plant in the autumn. Photograph taken of S. tricolor growing wild in Whangarei.