Acis

Acis autumnalis

Masses of pink tinged hanging white bells from August to October over thread-like leaves.

Makes a splendid early-autumn display in almost any sunny, well-drained soil. Easily pleased and a good one to start with.

Acis autumnalisaciautaut	£1.30		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Acis autumnalis oporanthus

The Moroccan variant, mentioned in Stern as long ago as the 1950’s and known of earlier.

A vigorous plant, making flowering stems up to 25cm tall and the flower stems are present at the same time as the leaves.

Don’t let the N. African origins put you off, this has been hardy here for many years, and persisted in cultivation for at least 80. Well drained, sunny site.

Acis autumnalis oporanthusaciautope	£1.40		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Acis autumnalis oporanthus dispathaceus

Stern records a few occurrences of a form with two spathes. Some of these refer undoubtedly to what we now know as Acis ionica however there are rare occurrences of autumnalis with two spathes and this stock is propagated from one of these.

Acis autumnalis oporanthus dispathaceusaciopodis	£1.95		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Acis autumnalis pulchella

From Morocco and S. Spain. Its distinction is that it flowers with the leaves present. Additionally its pedicels arch over at the apex.

A botanical synonym but every bit as distinct horticulturally as oporathus! Valuable for its flowers being set off against the foliage.

Acis autumnalis pulchellaaciautpul	£2.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Acis autumnalis September Snow

A new form with white flowers which lack much (but not all) of the pink infusion usually found around the base of the bloom near the ovary. They thus appear to be a purer white than the more usually encountered clone.

This is 100% true, genuine stock, obtained directly from the raiser, who is also the person who named it!

Acis autumnalis September Snowaciautsep	£1.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Acis ionica

This makes strong, but dwarf, spikes of superb, crystalline white flowers in early Autumn, in well grown specimens, several to each spike and 2-3 spikes to each bulb. Slender leaves follow.

This remarkable species has settled quickly into cultivation. It makes good seed and clumps well. We have it outside in a well-drained loam soil in sun. I have found it to be totally and utterly hardy here, certainly it took -12°C without damage at a time when the adjacent 'hardy' Cyclamen coum (which is always defoliated in hard frosts) was killed outright. After 15+ unscathed years, I think that I can now say 'hardy' with no fear of contradiction. If you could only grow one Acis, then this would have to be the one, it really is that good.

Well-drained loam soil in full sun, the more fertile the site, the better the growth, but this is an easily pleased plant which displays a great willingness to grow and flower.

This is a new name for Greek plants formerly, wrongly, identified by botanists as Leucojum valentinum (Acis valentina). Acis valentina does exist (and we now offer it) but is wholly a Spanish plant and is barely in cultivation.

Acis ionicaaciionion	£6.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Flowering sized, cultivated bulbs of a long established stock, now under its new name. Large view

Acis ionica vlorense

This is the geographical form of the species from the Albanian mainland.

This form is supposedly more attuned to damper, cooler conditions which may suit it in the garden and we can see the logic of this though we cannot find any real differences when the plant is in flower. Having said which, it’s still a a very nice plant indeed for the autumn garden.

Acis nicaeënsis

A rare native of a few localities in France, where it grows wedged into limestone rocks on the summits of steep-sided limestone plateaux.

Despite its rarity and limited habitat this is surprisingly easy to grow and very distinct.

It has narrow, flat, deep green, grassy foliage and short spike of 10-12cm each with one to three, heavy-textured, miniature, crystalline, white bells in April. Ideal potted under cold glass and very lovely but seemingly hardy and fine here outside over several years now.

Makes pleasing increase by both seed and a few offsets each year, if happy. To achieve this, a well-drained loam soil with a slight (not too severe) summer rest is perfect. Lime is fine but is not needed.

Acis nicaeënsisacinicnic	£3.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Acis tingitanus

A rather misunderstood plant as, for many years, this has been described in the literature as a species like trichopylla or autumnalis. However it looks nothing like these and comes closest to resembling a large, robust, multiflowered form of nicaeensis with pristine, crystalline white bells which are borne several to each 20cm tall scape, from mid winter to very early spring, depending on your climate.

It likes good drainage and sun, but nothing too severe. Importantly - don't be put off by seeing that its home is North Africa, it is NOT a desert plant, and it is not tender here with us, although you might struggle in cold climates, as you would with most other Acis.

Acis tingitanusacitintin	£6.85		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
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Acis trichophylla

This Iberian and N. African plant remains little seen in cultivation. It is, in my experience, one of the very few plants where the British obsession with lime or acid soils has some relevance to cultivation. I have consistently found that it does better in an acid soil. This is borne out in the wild, across Portugal where it forms extensive colonies over acid sands but is not found on the limestone.

In the UK it does well, in a pot of very sandy loam and flowers in early spring with very narrow grassy leaves and spikes of 2-3 flowers of crystalline white. These normally have a pink tinge at the ovary end. This makes offsets, but unlike most bulbs, these are produced at the top of the bulb, in the manner of an underground P1eione.

Photograph © Xemenendura at wikimedia, with thanks.

Acis valentina Segunto

At last the real, true to name plant is introduced to cultivation.

For many years Greek plants (now known to be incorrectly named), have done the rounds as Leucojum valentinum or latterly as Acis valentina. In fact the Greek plant is A. ionica and I am not aware that anyone has ever offered the true Spanish A. valentina before our present offering (first offered in 2012). You may see the name around, I am certain that it will not be the true plant that you have, or get sent.

True, Spanish, A. valentina has pure white flowers from late August onwards into September. Slender leaves follow the first flowers but can be present with later ones, though this is not constant. A well drained, loam-based soil in full sun or pot torture is all that is needed.

A full discussion of A. valentina and A. ionica is available in our members area.

Picture copyright © Dr. Réginald Hulhoven, with thanks. Used under the GNU Free Documentation License.

Acis valentina Seguntoacivalseg	£10.50		1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
The true Spanish species Large view