Brodiaea

This is a genus exclusive to the w. coast of N. America. For our naming we have followed Theodore F. Niehaus, in his “Biosystematic study of the genus Brodiaea (Amaryllidaceae)”. This is not recent however and the botany has changed. Some former Brodiaea are now considered to be Bloomeria, Dichelostemma or Triteleia and there are good grounds for this division. Most of the ‘old’ species are easily recognisable under their new names; Brodiaea laxa is now Triteleia laxa, Brodiaea ida-maia becomes Dichelostemma ida-maia etc.

Brodiaea are summer-flowering here and are a useful genus to prolong the bulb season into May, June and even July. They have some stunning and spectacular forms and colours, as well as a wide range of shapes and sizes. There is far more variety in the fewer species of Brodiaea than can be found in Crocus or Colchicum for example and they are too little known. I had always disdained them until Wayne Roderick insisted, many years ago, that I try them, and now we are growing several species. We have found them to be charming, hardy and easy. The dwarf species do not make large leaves and so are tidy plants. Yes, some have dead leaves present at flowering, frankly this makes little impact.

They like sun and good drainage and do not like to be waterlogged over winter. This is true of most bulbs, but I mention it as Brodiaea are often found in winter-wet habitats in the wild. Would-be cultivators might be tempted to try simulation without accounting for the other wild factors. A drier period after flowering aids ripening of their crocus-like corms. In a raised bed in a sunny site this will happen naturally. Almost all are suitable for pots, a compost of JI No. 3 (4 parts) to grit/sand (1 part) is about right. In pots they do not appreciate an excessively hot or dry summer baking which will simply causes shrivelling and death due to dehydration.