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A less commonly encountered species which calls the Rhodopi and Pirin Mts of Bulgaria home. This has lavender-blue flowers finely fringed in very narrow petals on a flower that is more widely open than related species. Small rounded evergreen leaves are a pleasure all year but it’s the flowers that makes your toes tingle in spring.

In the interest of full disclosure, we received this as Rhodohypoxis rubella from a reputable Dutch specialty bulb grower years back and we are having our doubts as to its veracity. Images of R. rubella in the wild suggest it is lighter pink, but then plants can have tremendous variability in the wild or none at all depending on the species. This has smaller flowers than typical R. baurii or its hybrids and smothers itself in rich deep dark pink flowers. Rhodohypoxis grow in South Africa at higher elevations on granitic cliffs where they inhabit little soil-filled pockets. They like good drainage and moisture while in growth and need the good drainage in winter to keep from rotting. Traditionally a classic bulb for small containers or pans as they they quickly fill out a pot and put on quite the display and then when they are going dormant it is easy to bring them into the garage or cool greenhouse over the winter. Here in the PNW, these are excellent rock garden subjects requiring only a bit of covering if winter temps plummet.

When you work with plants as long as we have the verdure begins to have a Stockholm-Syndrome-like effect on your brain and you soon begin to demand that even your flowers be green and "viridiflora" sounds like music to your ears. For those in similarly dire straits these South African bulbs and their tall spires of flowers are the cure you're looking for.

Butterfly Iris.  In the Iris family from Tasmania and New South Wales, this makes a substantive clump of thin evergreen leaves with tall wiry stems holding enchanting white flowers well above the leaves. Grown for decades in the Seattle garden of Jeanette Kunnen.