Description
(formerly Leucojum tingitanum and may be seen {wrongly} as Acis tingitanus and A. tingitanum)
A magnificent plant which for many years was described in the literature as one looking like trichophylla or autumnalis. This is totally incorrect and has come about because the authors have not been looking at the right plants (or not even looking at any living plants) when writing about it. In real life the true Acis tingitana looks nothing like either of these and, if anything, it comes closest to resembling a huge (both much taller and more substantial), robust, multi-flowered form of nicaeensis with pristine, crystalline white bells of a very good size which are borne in clusters – several to each 20-25cm tall scape (it is the largest of the Acis species). These appear and open from mid-winter to very early-spring, depending on your climate or how it is grown. Exceptionally we have had this in flower in late December, under alpine-glass, however it starts flowering in early January and continues until mid March. Outside, in the the right spot, it will be later.
It can be grown all the time under glass if you wish and it does does well like that, but it does not actually need those conditions. If you grow it outside then it will require good drainage and sun, but nothing too severe. A sunny, raised bed of gritty, loam-based compost would work well. Importantly – don’t be put off by seeing that its home is North Africa, it is NOT a desert plant and it is seemingly not tender here with us, although you might struggle in very cold climates, as you would with all Acis. With good growth and time, this is capable of making the largest bulbs in the entire genus Acis. It will slowly make some offsets when it gets large but it is best brought on from seed.
The name of “tingitana” alludes to the ancient Roman province of Mauretania Tingitana in this part of north Africa and its capital Tingis, which equates to modern Tangier.
Raised from Jim Archibald seed (JJA.630.480) which was in turn produced in cultivation from a John Blanchard collection made above Chaouene.
Acis tingitanus