Dichelostemma congestum – Brodiaea congesta – Brevoortia –

Description

Dichelostemma – Brevoortia – There are about 7 species of summer flowering, cormous perennials, in this genus. They occur in grassland and chaparral in Western North America. They are grown for their umbels or racemes of tubular to bell shaped flowers, clustered at the ends of 3′ feet long, thin stems. They produce narrow, basal grass like leaves, to 12″ long, produced in spring, die off as the flowers open. Grow in a warm sheltered border or, in cool climate with damp summers, in a bulb frame or cold green house to ensurte a warm, dry dormancy. Plant in fall in full sun in well drained soil. Prone to rust. D. congestum – Brodiaea congesta – This cormous perennial from Washington, Oregon, and California grows 16-36″ tall, It produces dense racemes, 2″ across, of numerous tubular, lilac-blue flowers, 3/4″ long, in early summer. Similar to D. pulchellum, but flower stalks are joined at the base. Zones 6-10