Masculine Cup Flower

Last weekend, we planted our first Androcymbium rechingeri in the garden. In Latin, the genus name roughly translates to masculine cup like. This little known Colchicum cousin hails from a very tiny region on the Eastern sea coast of Crete. This highly endangered species, first described in 1967, grows from an underground corm, which flowers in early December with ground level flowers. Like most Mediterranean geophytes, it goes dormant in late spring. Our plants are seed grown offspring, from an original seed collection from the famed Archibald Seed Company. We planted seedlings in two locations in our crevice garden, where we think they will thrive. Wish us luck.