Nectaroscordum siculum

HONEY BELLS

COLLECTORS PACK

Nectaroscordum siculum
HONEY BELLS
COLLECTOR’S PACK

Nectaroscordum siculum is a heat hardy treasure.

Thrives in hot dry gardens

“Honey Bells” is native to sun baked areas of Sicily, southern France and Italy, so it knows a thing or two about hot, dry summers.
And is superbly adapted to thrive in hot and dry gardens in Australia.

Sweet & lovely perfume

The common name of Honey Bells is very appropriate, because the flower heads have such a sweet and lovely perfume.

Cascades of bells in early summer

So this heat hardy bulb produces cascades of white pendulous, bell shaped flowers in early summer.
With each flower beautifully marked with purple and pink, and flushed with green on the inner side.
Then in spring and early summer, the sturdy stems rise to 75cm, bearing cascades of thimble sized  stunning blooms.

Tall elegant & slender with no mess

So it is a tall, slender and elegant plant.
And after the showy flower heads are finished – it politely dies back to the bulb for the summer, without looking messy.

Perfect for gardeners with limited summer water

Happily for gardeners with rationed summer water – Nectaroscordum siculum enjoys a sleep and to stay dry during the heat of summer.

Plus interesting foliage

Narrow, triangular leaves twist as they rise, making Nectaroscordum siculum a very attractive garden foliage feature, without it taking up too much room.

Bees, pollinators & native birds cant resist

Bees and native honey-eating birds alike, as well as gardeners, find the sweet scent of the blooms irresistible.
So this is an excellent plant to bring pollinators in and give them a boost of mega nectar.

Perfect (& unusual) cut flowers for florists

Plus the blooms make long-lasting and fragrant cut flowers.

Happy in full sun & good drainage

Nectaroscordum siculum enjoys Full Sun.
And it is not fussy on soil type, as with most members of the Allium family.
However it does require very good drainage, especially over summer when it is dormant.

Water-wise & low care

So this easy and lovely bulb is perfect for gardeners with limited water over summer – It is very water-wise.
Plus you can just leave it alone for year after year to multiply to ever more lovely clumps.
As it does not need lifting or dividing (unless you are feeling extremely generous to your gardener friends).

Rabbits & deer are the only ones who dont like it

Fortunately, rabbits and deer find the onion-like taste of the foliage unpalatable. Win win for gardeners.

Nectaroscordum siculum is a heat and dry hardy bulb and a member of the Allium family.
Flower stems 75cm. high with the scented bells clustered atop x 45cm. wide clump of narrow, onion-like foliage.

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Seed of Nectaroscordum siculum can be sown at any time, whenever suitable temperatures are available (13-18° C).

Seed can be sown indoors in a punnet.
OR
Sown outdoors in the garden in autumn.
If seed is sown directly into the ground, the seed may not germinate until it’s dormancy is broken by a period of winter chilling.

Sow indoors for faster germination & quicker plants: First soak the seeds in a glass of water overnight to soften the hard outer casing and allow them to take water in.

Then next day sow the seeds in a punnet on the surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Andcover the seed with sieved mix to a depth equal to the diameter of the seeds.

Now thoroughly moisten the sown punnet by standing it in a shallow water bath, and allowing the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below.

Hasten germination by giving the seeds a “pretend winter”

You can hasten germination by placing the sown and moistened seed punnet in the fridge (not freezer) for 4 weeks, in a plastic bag / wrapped in cling-wrap.
So the seeds will think they have had winter and break their natural dormancy.

Then remove from the fridge, unwrap, and place in a well lit position (not in any direct sunlight, as this will dry the seeds out too much).

Temperatures of 13-18° C. are optimum for rapid germination.

Continue to keep the punnet consistently moist by regularly misting from a spray water-bottle.
Covering the punnet with a clear plastic lid or plastic bag will also help to maintain necessary consistent moisture.

Remove the cover immediately sprouts appear.

Germination usually begins in 3-4 weeks approx.

Transplant seedlings when big enough to handle into 75 mm tubes to allow to mature before transplanting into the garden.

Seed Count COLLECTOR’S PACK: 3 seeds per pack.
(These seeds are scarce and rarely available).

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