Tecophilaea

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Superb dwarf corms from Chile. The species was once considered extinct but has been rediscovered. Popular myth blamed extinction on wild collection, with no proof. In truth the gene pool of cultivated plants is limited and constant, indicating that cultivated stock has been raised from a limited number of plants. Instead changes in grazing patterns and water abstraction caused the loss of the limited, vulnerable habitat, but this is less emotive than blaming gardeners.

Compost is a well-drained, loam with a third coarse sand added. They are summer dormant and need dryness then, but this must not be severe or they will shrivel.

In the winter they are cold hardy here in the open ground but in a pot then they will need frost protection. We grow them outside, in well-drained, raised, shaded beds. In cold continental climates they may need winter protection.

Not for dunking in any old spot in any old garden but not difficult.

Order from the Autumn list.

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus

Unique in the bulb world for the sheer depth and intensity of its fabulous deep gentian blue flowers. The colour is almost unbelievable, but there is an added bonus of a lovely gentle scent of violets, when the air is warm and still. It really should be in every serious bulb enthusiast’s collection.

Now probably extinct in the wild due to farming, water abstraction and climatic change, but readily grown in a well drained gritty compost under glass and will grow in a favoured spot outside (in the UK, coastal Ireland and parts of NZ).


Tecophilaea cyanocrocus teccyacya	£6.50
Seed-raised, flowering-sized corms. Large view

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Leichtlinii

In this lovely form the blue is a touch paler whilst the white throat-star extends right up into the throat, with a few tiny blue flecks, just to set off the white.

In the words of the late Jim Archibald "It is interesting to not that the entire colony of this species, recently discovered not far from Santiago, is reported as approximating most closely to this colour phase, so maybe this is more typical of the species than the one regarded as the type-form"

AGM (RHS)


Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Leichtliniiteccyalei	£6.00
Seed-raised, flowering-sized corms. Large view

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Stormcloud

Imagine the pattern of colouring in leichtlinii, and add to the white throat, the gorgeous violet colouring of violacea then you have Stormcloud. A lovely form and the first new named clone of Tecophilaea since Max Leichtlin registered the two existing cultivars in 1881.

Growth is as for the normal forms.

First offered 2003


Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Stormcloudteccyasto	£8.50
Seed-raised, flowering-sized corms.

Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Violacea

The colouration here is a sumptuous deep violet blue, which seems to enhance the velvety texture of the petals.


Tecophilaea cyanocrocus Violaceateccyavio	£6.50
Large view