National Collection of Bellevalia
I think I have this beauty mislabelled as Bellevalia speciosa.
The unopened buds are very pink, the apex of the raceme is quite pointed and the leaves are wider than those of the other bulbs I have in the pot.
But then again may be it is the other bulbs that I have wrongly labelled!!! Further research may be required, but whatever it is, it is gorgeous.
Note to self… Bellevalia’s need a lot more slug and snail protection than Muscari!
I imagine with their larger stems and thicker leaves the plants look like gourmet meals to the local Gastropoda. The little creatures certainly enjoyed dining in the dark last night. Of the two stems which were developing nicely yesterday, only one remains standing.
Amazingly, despite having half its stem nibbled away, Bellevalia fominii is still putting on a lovely display. Meanwhile, the snail has been ‘relocated’.
There were many beauties in the garden this morning, but Bellevalia turkestanica (or atroviolacea to its friends) was definitely posing for the camera.
It may be cold outside but that’s not putting Bellevalia dubia off from putting on a fine show this morning.
Two weeks ago it was looking like a frog, now it has become a handsome prince 🙂
A native to many countries around the Mediterranean, I’m pleased to welcome the elegant Bellevalia trifoliata into my garden 🙂
This low growing Bellevalia cyanopoda is displaying beautifully a purple stem, purple pedicels and unusual blue buds which open to white, with purple stamen.
The word ‘cyanopoda’ actually suggests blue feet!
The flowers are beginning to open on Bellevalia turkestanica also known by the synonym Bellevalia atroviolacea.
‘Atro’ means ‘darkest’ and this unusual and beautiful plant displays the darkest blue of all the Bellevalias.
So Bellevalia’s are new to me and I genuinely did not know what to expect.
As far as I can see so far they are a weird and wonderful world of curious pleasures 🙂
Bellevalia longistyla has a dark stem at its centre and delightful purple stamen inside white, green veined flowers.
The flower buds are gradually loosing their elegant, upright poise. A bit like a Victorian lady undoing her tight corset and suddenly letting it all hang out!
Today I have three tales from the Bellevalias to share in pictures.
1, The buds on Bellevalia longistyla are still green and tightly packed, but the appearance of a dark collar at the base of the raceme adds a touch of elegance as the flower spike pushes up.
2, Bellevalia cyanopoda looks a little like a pineapple sitting on its leaves with the raindrops close by. The leaves have a subtle touch of red along their margins.
Bellevalia cyanopoda – 15 Mar 2019
3, And last but not least, not much to look at may be, but very exciting to me… seedlings coming through for Bellevalia paradoxa.
This year is my first for growing Bellevalias. I am very excited by the flower heads poking their noses through… I am less happy to report that the snails appear to be just as excited by the leaves of Bellevalia longistyla!
Gardeneasta 