Van Dycks

Varieties

Crocosmia

Plant in spring in well-drained soil in full sun to light shade. After last frost, plant corms 3- 5" deep and 6-8" apart. Keep well-watered throughout the growing season. In colder areas, mulch thickly or dig in fall and store indoors over the winter. Grows 2-3' tall. Blooms July-Aug. Hardy in zones 5-8.

Crocosmiiflora

See Crocosmia

Crocus

Plant in fall in well-drained, sandy soil in full sun to partial shade. Plant bulbs 2-4" deep and 2- 3" apart. For best effect, plant in drifts of 20 or more bulbs. Crocus naturalize well. Grows 4-6" tall . Crocus can be successfully grown in a lawn for a spring meadow effect. Plant 1-2" deep. Hold off on mowing the lawn in spring until the crocus foliage begins to die back. Blooms February-March. Hardy in zones 3-9.

Crocus–Fall Flowering

Plant before October 15th, in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Plant 2-3" deep in groups of 7 or more bulbs. They naturalize well. Grows 4-6" tall. Hardy in zones 5-10.

Crocus sativus–Saffron Crocus

Plant in early fall in well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Plant bulbs 4" deep and 4-6" apart. Label the planting so the bulbs do not get pulled up during spring weeding. Hardy in Zones 4-10. Grows 4-6" tall. Saffron crocus bloom late in the fall. To collect the saffron, pick the stigmas as soon as the flowers open. Air dry the stigmas as quickly as possible and store in a closed container away from light or heat.

Curcuma alismatifolia

(Siam Tulip/Ornamental Ginger) Plant rhizomes 1" deep in full or partial sun in rich well-drained soil with a pH of 5-7 when soil temperature has reached 55 degrees. Water thoroughly after planting and let soil dry before watering again. It's important not to have too wet of soil at this stage or the rhizome will rot. Once full growth has begun, keep soil moist but not too wet. Follow these garden steps for either container or garden culture. Gingers are not cold hardy. Dig prior to frost in the fall or move container into a warm location. Grows 20" tall. Blooms June-August. Hardy in zones 8-10.

Cyclamen

(Hardy Cyclamen) Plant in light shade. Cyclamen needs well-drained, moist, slightly alkaline soil. Grow Cyclamen beneath shrubs, around trees in rock gardens or mixed borders. Plant tubers with concave side up, 1/2-1" deep and 6-8" apart during their dormant period. Protect from harsh, heavy rains, but do not let tuber dry out. Once established, do not disturb and it will slowly multiply. Apply winter cover in cold areas. Grows 8-12" tall. Blooms September. - October. Hardy in zones 5-9.

Cyrtanthus mackeni

(Yellow Clarion) The bulbs may be planted in containers or in the garden in full sun, in the spring, after all danger of frost has passed. Plant bulbs twice as deep as the diameter of the bulb in well-drained neutral soil. When planting in containers, the bulbs may be spaced closer for a fuller look. 'Yellow Clarion' may be left in the ground or containers in zones 10-11. In colder regions, they must be lifted prior to frost and stored in a frost-free area. Allow the foliage to ripen naturally and then remove. Grows 12" tall. Blooms July-October. Hardy in zones 10-11.

Daffodils

See Narcissus

Dahlia imperialism

(Tree Dahlia) Plant in a warm and sunny area in the garden. Plant tuber in welldrained soil, 6" deep and spaced 6-7 feet apart. Grows 20-29 feet tall, blooming in late August until frost. Hardy in zones 8-10; elsewhere dig and store in a frost-free area over the winter.