Concerning Martagons

I don't know about digging the same martagons bulbs up again this season. I would think you're pushing your luck, adding to the trama, and they might not appear next season. After almost two weeks in the ground, I think they have done some settling in. Just my opinion.

It was emphasized to us to move as much earth as possible intact with them. Or not move them at all.

I'll let them stay where they are, hope for the best, and be sure to plant more next year in another spot next year.
:-)

Goodness, I really don't think you have to be that picky if the bulbs are mature. A friend gave me 12 blooming size martagon bulbs once (no soil), they were out of the ground 2.5 days, and all returned the following season. And they had virtually no roots attached to the bulbs either.

good.
:-)
In reality, if they are so picky, I guess they won't be residing in my garden. I'm not that good, but I have fun.

It is worth a try because they are so special......and of course what makes them special is that they are soooooo difficult! (like everything else)

Don't you say that LL! Among the species, and after the first year, martagons are among the easiest! I even had one that survived in my hot garden. (That was before I knew any better.) They even like full sun if they get ample water and cool feet.

Our MN Rock Garden Society recently had a speaker from Birmingham, England give a slide talk on Irish gardens. He had one pic of a garden on the subtropical south west Irish coast. A large colony of Lilium pyrenaicum is very happy there. From the high Pyrenees mountains to the subtropics: I would say that is pretty adaptable.

Alrighty then, that's the word I'm holding in my mind. They'll do great wherever they are, just leave them alone to do what they need to do. :-)

Now have all of you boys and girls seen this link from the Northstar Lily Society Site?
http://www.geocities.com/hglil/

http://www.northstarlilysociety.com/

Lefty, just loved that geocities link. Do I understand that they sell some of them? Lots to look at.....

Looks like DG'ers have crashed the geocities site. I will definitely check back later.

Eugene Fox has an excellent book on martagons which covers just about everything you need to know.

I never knew there were so many lillies available...I bet they are all temperamental.

Did you all notice that the Hartle-Gilman martagons are growing in full sun? Just like with hosta, even if they don't technically get enough water, that is the best method for fast increase of individual plants and largest flower spikes.

I have Fox's martagon book. I haven't read it cover to cover, but it is quite in depth yet easy reading.

Also for anyone interested, The Northstar Lily Society now has their Martagon Lily CD available, 2cd edition. Lots of photos, plus information, articles and culture. This CD works like a web site, rather than a simple collection of files. See here for complete information:
http://www.northstarlilysociety.com/martagons.htm

I just can't imagine how wonderful it would be to have that huge group of martagons. Have you ever seen them like that in person?

Hi,
Just wanted to pick your brains again about marts. Should I expect not to find spring shipping bulbs and if I do not to order/ plant until autumn? They do look so nice in the pictures...

I think you'll be able to find some of the more common ones, but the Lily Nook won't have any until Fall. Not sure what your second question is. Bulbs obtained in the Fall will be fresher and probably settle in sooner. If you're asking is it OK to wait until Fall to plant, the answer is yes.

I have been looking around but so far I have not found any spring shipping marts. :*(

Martagons are rarely sold for spring planting. Even if you find some, they probably won't even come up the first year. Even fall planted martagons sometimes sulk the first and erupt the second spring. Honestly, I would wait til next fall.

I saw them in the Van Bourgondien catalog, but I really don't recommend those guys. Bad rating in the WD. You might also check out Brent and Beckie's. They usually have them. Look in the species section.

You would all do much better with marties if you buy them from the grower, not a reseller.

you also might want to do some research on the web.

cold, sneezing grouch

Miss the Fall shipping and you have to wait a year :*( I'll find something else to spend my pocket dust bunnies on.

I just received a catalog in the mail today from Klehm's Song Sparrow Farm and Nursery. They have 3 martagons listed in the catalog, and they are only listed as bulbs, and there is no indication that they are only for Fall planting.

Their website is http://www.songsparrow.com/

You can find the martagons here:
'Claude Shride' http://www.songsparrow.com/2007new/plantdetails.cfm?ID=366&type=Shade%20Perennials&pagetype=plantdetails

'Moonyeen' http://www.songsparrow.com/2007new/plantdetails.cfm?ID=367&type=Shade%20Perennials&pagetype=plantdetails

'Nepara' http://www.songsparrow.com/2007new/plantdetails.cfm?ID=368&type=Shade%20Perennials&pagetype=plantdetails

I just bought my first martagon bulbs last Fall, and tried to educate myself the best I could prior to that. From what I've read, I don't expect much if anything of the martagons this year. They seem to be notorious for 'sulking' and that you really need to give them 5 years before you know if they are going to put on a good show for you or not. That said, I wonder if it would really make any difference if you planted them Spring. Hopefully someone who knows martagons better than I do can offer an opinion.

Good Luck.

I wonder if there is anywhere you can purchase a "5 year old"?

Doesn't matter if they are 'five' years old or more. They still may sulk for a year or so. It all depends on the handling. You cannot control what happens before they reach you.
inanda

Inanda is right. But of course, you probably will do a little better with a larger bulb just because of the age, in the end. On the other hand, a 2 or 3 year old seedling handles transplanting a lot better.

thanks

Just a thought. How many of you are actually willing to pay $25 to $30 for a martagon bulb? Just curious, but I doubt many people are actually interested in parting with this much money for a bulb that sulks and takes years to establish?

I'm not willing to pay that much for a martagon bulb.....right now. There was a time that I wasn't willing to spend that much on a hosta.....but that is no longer the case. As with any plant, they can just die on you....either now or later. It all depends on what you are willing to spend your money on, and how much enjoyment you will get out of it. Think of it this way. For a couple to go out to a movie....and have a little popcorn and something to drink, what would it cost you? The movie is over in 2 hours. It's a trade off.

I hope that I don't sound preachy.......I'm still amazed at the prices many people spend for a new hosta, daylily, lily, etc......or tickets to a major league sporting event.

Well, I have been considering obtaining Glacier......

Everything looks pricey to me this year :*( But in a good year maybe $20 since I saw a website selling Claude for $20, and if I did purchase it at $20 it would probably be a once or twice in a lifetime thing. I would demand that they be flowering size also...

Then there's me. If I loved it, I would pull an extra shift just to get my hands on one or two of them. I'd be patient, let it sulk then be rewarded later :)

If I paid $25.00 for one bulb I would not want it to sulk at all anytime anywhere and bloom its fool head off...but then if Martagons were so easy we would not be having this discussion and they would not be so special.

$20 is CHEAP for a daylily--and an old one at that. And who knows if they will even survive my Iowa winters? I think iris & lilies are vastly under=priced in comparison. besides, It's fun to grow something that challenges me.

I agree...then you have something special

We are hard core gardeners for sure. We'll eat PBJ for a week if it means we can get our grubby little hands on a special plant, tool, etc. Yeah For Us!

LOL Had to laugh at 'hard core' ~ why you to think I invited Wanda and llilyfan to come play in my garden? AND they accepted!

Hard core and sneaky.....I like it!

I am glad to hear that I am not the only "hard core" fool out there that would spend money to put in the ground, and wait, and wait, and wait! LOL Yes, I have several martagons! And you are right. I have spent much more than $20 on a daylily!

We are certainly an enthusistic group of enablers. I'm so glad that we've found each other. There is always some other fool (I mean gardener) that has spent more than we have on one plant/bulb/etc.