Sichuan High Altitude Bulbs

Our member Geoff recently went on a plant hunter tour in the Sichuan mountains.  It is very difficult to grow all the pictured bulbs in Australia as they are more suited to cold and damp conditions.

Lilium regale: This well-known and easy to grow lilium was found by plant hunter Ernest Wilson in the Min River Valley, where it still grows on very steep mountainsides in its thousands. Many clones have distinct purple streaks on the backs of the petals. It was awarded a RHS Award of Garden Merit in 1993.

Iris bulleyana: This iris may also be found in Tibet and Myanmar. It has thick, creeping rhizomes, and the flowers range in colour from blue, violet, purple, and white (uncommon). Plants grow in moist areas on hill and mountain-sides, and in sub-alpine and alpine meadows. It was named for Arthur Bulley, a wealthy trader from Liverpool, who funded a number of plant hunters.

Cypripedium tibeticum: This striking slipper orchid grows at high altitudes, to 4,200 metres, and can be found either at forest margins or in more open areas. Sometimes plants are just dotted about, or they may grow in colonies of various sizes. The plant photographed was on an open mountain-side, above the tree line.

Cardiocrinum giganteum (Giant Himalayan Lily): Apart from western China, also found in Yunnan, Bhutan and Sikkim. When seen in Sichuan, plants – which can grow to 3.5 metres - were growing among and supported by shrubby plants. This cardiocrinum has been grown in England and elsewhere for over 100 years.

Fritillaria unibracteata: This rather delicate little plant grows to 20cm, and grows in western China at altitudes to 4,000 metres. It is a valuable and traditional Chinese medicinal plant, and because of this fact has become rare and endangered in the wild. In cultivation it needs a cool climate and damp, humus rich soil.

Lilium davidii: This plant is also found in the mountain areas of India and Bhutan. It is a stem-rooting lilium, easy to cultivate, and may grow to 1.5 metres. The bulb is edible, and is eaten in China. Lilium davidii was named for Armand David, a French missionary and naturalist.