Tulbaghia Cariad

Plant Name

Tulbaghia 'Cariad' NEW CUTIVAR NAME

My ref

1744

Obtained From

Seed batch sown 29/12/03

Synonyms

None

Species

Interspecific hybrids

Hybrids

Yes.

Verified

Yes

Notes completed

Yes

Leaves

32 cm long, 2 mm wide, bright-green, with a light sheen, shallowly canaliculated. Erect when young, recumbent with age. Slight garlic odour when bruised. Deciduous.

Scape

20 cm. Slightly paler green than foliage.

Umbel

6 flowered. Up to 33 mm across.

Pedicels

10 mm. Green.

PerianthTube

6 mm long, 3 mm in diameter. Pale purplish-pink with fine green veins.

Perianth Segments

Very pale-pink with fine central line, in two whorls 1 mm apart. Upper segments 5 mm long. Lower segments 7 mm long, held at right angles to the tube. Garlic scented if bruised.

Corona On Opening

Crenate, tips slightly recurved, fleshy, green at first, changing to darkish mustard brown and maturing brownish orange. 3 mm long at the level of the lower perianth segments, diameter 3mm.

Anthers

In two alternate whorls. Upper whorl attached almost level with the base of the upper perianth segment excerted just below corona mouth. Lower inserted level with the lower perianth segments.

Ovary

Ovoid. 2 mm long.

Style

Approx 0.75 mm.

Stigma

Capitate.

Capsule

Day Scented

Yes

Night Scented

Yes.

Flowering Starts

April

Flowering Ends

July and intermittently after.

Date Photographed

13/5/06

Date Notes Taken

13/5/06

Does It Set Seed

Yes

Verification Required

No

Additional Notes

NAME TULBAGHIA ‘CARIAD’ registered with KAVB 21/10/2008

Summary

Cariad is Welsh for sweetheart, which is I think an apt name for this new sweetly scented Tulbaghia which produces an abundant display of small flowers of the very palest pink held on 20 cm stems.

In contrast the corona which is at first green, changes to darkish mustard brown and matures brownish orange.

The relatively fine linear foliage is green, with a light sheen, and while erect at the beginning of the season, becomes recumbent with age. Consequently this marvellous wiggy effect is most effectively displayed in a pot on the patio in order that the habit of the foliage is shown off to advantage.

Obligingly it bulks up relatively quickly and is deciduous, thus likely to be hardy.

The flowering period is from late April onwards. 6 flowered umbels.