Zigadenus

Family Melanthiaceae. Name: Greek, means "pair of nectar glands".

Description: the genus includes 25 species. Naturally occurs in North America, Japan, and Siberia. Perennial bulbous plant up to 100 cm tall. Bulb enclosed in a membranous tunic. Leaves basal, linear; stem (lower) leaves narrowly linear. Flowers white, yellowish or greenish in color, gathered in racemose inflorescences. The perianth is broadly funnel-shaped, fused into a tube to about half the length of the lobes. Fruit is a three-angled capsule, seeds light brown. All parts of the plant are poisonous!

Location: prefers rich soils. Develops well both in partial shade and in sunny, open sites. Moisture-loving (in nature it grows on flood meadows), but tolerates temporary drying out. Hardy in winter without cover.

Propagation: by seeds and vegetatively. When grown from seeds stratification is not required. Seedlings develop slowly. After pricking out young plants should not be disturbed — any transplanting can delay growth or induce premature dormancy. For better overwintering, boxes with seedlings should be sunk into the ground, mulched and covered with dry leaves to a depth of about 5 cm. The best option for wintering young seedlings is storage in a cold but not freezing room with moderate soil moisture. In spring plants are planted immediately after awakening into spacious boxes or into open ground for further cultivation. They flower in the 3rd–4th year. Vegetatively can be propagated by division early in spring or after flowering.

Usage: an extremely slim, elegant plant. Remarkably attractive when planted in small groups near rocks. Suitable for almost all types of rock gardens, including for a "bog" and a mixed border.

Partners: in combination with shrubs.