We just moved into our new house in Portland in July of 2004, soeverything that happens in our yard is new to us. You guys werehelpful in identifying our autumn-flowering cherry tree last fall(which is STILL blooming, by the way), so I've returned with anothermystery...All around the front of our house -- under the arbor vitae, therhododendrons, the Japanese maple, the hydrangea, and elsewhere --there are plants coming up. They look like they're some kind of bulbs,because of the shape of the leaves, the depth underground from whichthey come (I dug down 8 inches with a trowel and couldn't find theroots), and the fact that there was no trace of them late last summer,and some of them are growing in places that will be 100% shaded oncethe Japanese maple's leaves come in.Having come from Zone 4 (MN), I don't know what to make of stuffvigorously popping out of the ground in January! Hell, maybe they'rejust weeds (but if that were the case, I'd think they'd be morewidespread than just around the front yard).I took some pictures and posted them here: someone who knows about bulbs and the West Coast take a look andtell me what we're dealing with here?Thanks!Adam

Just take a chill pill and let them be.Wait until they flower and then you will know what they are.

Our garden has lots of these even though we are a long way away in theUK. They are Bluebells, but if you are lucky some of the flowers may bepink or white as well as blue. There is no need to worry about shadefor them as the flowers will be over before the shade gets too deep.Ifyou want them to continue flowering next year it is important to leavethe leaves to die back naturally to feed the bulbs (at least 6 weeksafter the flowers die).Adam Schneider wrote:summer,

Yes, they look like bluebells to me too. Unfortunately, I don't thinthey are Hyacinthoides non scripta, the delicate English bluebell thacreates a beautiful haze of blue in woodlands in May. Instead I thinthese are Hyacinthoides hispanica (known as Spanish bluebells). Thecome into leaf much earlier than the English ones and the leaves arthicker and strap-like. They are generally a bigger plant, with palersometimes wishy-washy blue-violet flowers. The problem with them is thathey are rampant growers - spreading very fast and also hybridising witEnglish bluebells. That may not pose a problem where you are, but yomight get fed up with trying to eradicate them from parts of yougarden where you don't want them. The bulbs go really deep too, sthey are hard to dig out.DiSansom Wrote:--Ornata

What are these January-sprouting bulbs? (Portland, OR)

Jan 27, 2005 28 Replies

Rate this thread:

Adam Schneider 21 years ago

Here's a couple local pages about the evil bittercress:

formatting link

(I'm not sure which species of "Cardamine" is taking over my yard, but the pictures on these pages give the general idea.)

Adam

Vote

DiSansom 21 years ago

summer,

Vote

Ann Burlingham 21 years ago

seems to be edible. i like eating the enemy.

formatting link

Vote

Ann Burlingham 21 years ago

formatting link

Vote

pandora 21 years ago

It is indeed the beginning of Spring in the Pacific Northwest, as far as I'm concerned. My primroses have been blooming for a week. My callalilies began blooming last week and my crocuses and daffodils are up, although not in bloom, yet. I expect them to be blooming soon. Oh, and my daisies are blooming wildly. Yeah!

Marg

Vote

Kathryn Burlingham 21 years ago

[snip url to pictures]

Oh, yes, I have that. Attractive little thing, isn't it? It doesn't seem to win the fight against some of the other, less attractive weeds I get, so I bear it no animosity.

I may have to try it in a salad, isn't Ann useful?

Vote

Ornata 21 years ago

-- Ornata

Vote

Adam Schneider 21 years ago

An update, if anyone cares: it turns out they're Spanish Bluebells. Give yourself a pat on the back if that was your guess. :)

formatting link

sure do take up a lot of space, but I'm not too bothered, as our front "yard" is just covered in bark mulch anyway. If they interfere with our new Star Magnolia or Mexican Oranges, though, I'll start kicking some bluebell butt.

Adam

Vote

fran 21 years ago

They will have absolutely no effect on your magnolias or oranges. Just leave them alone until all the leaves turn brown, then trim and wait for next years bloom. I've had clumps in my garden around roses, St John's Wort, pansies, spieria, lilacs, etc. and they've never caused a problem.

You may want to thin them every 5 - 6 years. Just dig deep enough to find the bulbs, seperate them, and replant.

Vote

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required