Leucocorynes Collection

This is a collection of Leucocorynes or Sun Glories, composed of the varieties Leucocoryne 'Blue Ocean', 'White Dream', and 'Andes'. These bulbs, originating from Chile, have highly fragrant and variably coloured flowers. They can be a bit difficult to cultivate and sometimes temperamental: while they can be planted in rock gardens and borders along the Mediterranean coast, they are also beautiful additions to flowering pots and bouquets elsewhere.

This Collection consists of:

x 10 Leucocoryne ixioides 'Blue Ocean': its ultramarine blue flowers with white throats measure up to 4 cm in diameter. Its delicate foliage forms a green carpet beneath the flowers. This variety reaches a height of about 40 cm when in bloom.

x 10 Leucocoryne 'White Dream': with its white flowers, this variety is particularly luminous. Its pale green foliage provides a simple background for the blooming. It reaches a height of 30 to 40 cm when in bloom.

x 10 Leucocoryne 'Andes': unique with its multicoloured, contrasting, exotic flowers, featuring lavender stars with a wide central purple making and a yellow heart. This variety produces multiple flowers on each stem. Its blooming height varies between 30 and 50 cm.

Bulbs are labelled separately.

Leucocoryne ixioïdes is a bulbous plant found only in the mountainous and somewhat arid areas of the Chilean coast, in regions where rainfall is abundant in autumn, winter, and spring, and summers are hot and dry. It is well-suited to a Mediterranean climate, bulbs die below -3/-5 °C. Its long and narrow leaves emit a garlic-like odour when crushed. They emerge in autumn and turn yellow during and just after blooming. Blooming occurs in June and attracts a large number of butterflies. The bulbs go dormant during the hot and dry summer season.

Leucocoryne thrives in full sun, in rich and well-drained soil. In the ground, plant the bulbs in late summer or early autumn, in a sunny and protected location. This plant prefers moist soil in spring and autumn, and dry soil in summer; you can plant it directly in pure sand to enhance its hardiness. During the summer dormant period, it is essential to keep the bulbs dry. Vegetation resumes with autumn rains. Shelter plant from frost, in a very bright location if the plant is grown in a pot, or by lifting clumps from the bed or rock garden to overwinter them frost-free.

The bulbs should be spaced about 10 to 15 cm apart and 5 cm deep. In flower beds, taller varieties like Leucocoryne 'Andes' should be placed in the background, while shorter varieties like Leucocoryne 'White Dream' can be planted in the foreground. To create a dense and colourful effect, plant 10 to 12 bulbs per square metre.

This Collection of Leucocorynes or Sun Glories will thrive in a rock garden in a Mediterranean coastal climate alongside botanical tulips, lavenders, rockroses, and white asphodels. In colder regions, they will make beautiful potted plants that can be stored in a dry place during summer and protected from frost in winter. The flowers hold up well in a vase and will fill your home with their fragrance.