Sicilian Honey Garlic
Nectaroscordum siculum
also know as Sicilian Honey Garlic, Sicilian Honey Lily or Mediterranean Bells.
We have only a vague recollection of buying the bulbs last year They were planted in a pot last Autumn and left over winter.
Over a month ago they looked like this. We were bemused as to what they were. They had been labelled but the name had smudged in the damp weather and on the other side of the label it said pumpkin! Full marks for recycling the label though. The packet top had either been put somewhere very safe or thrown away.
A few weeks ago one of the spears popped open to reveal the little buds inside.
Gradually they all opened into buds which then began to open into little dangling bell like flowers.
How delightful!
We tried again to read the label and put into google what we thought it said which seemed like gobbledegook but we found its real name quite quickly.
Anyway now we know what they are and they are delightful and most importantly the bees love them.
Here is a - link - to the RHS site to find out more.
Quite pretty!
ReplyDeleteThanks William:)
DeleteWow!They are lovely and sooooo unusual.
ReplyDeleteThey are unusual aren't they and the bees are all over them:)
DeleteGorgeous & thanks for the common names for them. I only knew the latin & certainly can't really pronounce it. Take care.
ReplyDeleteIt was the Latin name on the label we couldn't read so even harder to decide what they were:)
DeleteThey-are-beautiful...!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThey are, aren't they?:)
DeleteHow unusual and very pretty. I wonder if you can eat the bulb, not that you'd really want to as they put on a great display. 😊
ReplyDeleteI think they are purely decorative. Apparently they smell garlicky so hence the name but I haven't noticed any smell yet:)
Deletewhat a lovely flower.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite different isn't it?:)
DeleteStrange but beautiful. Even if I'd seen the name I'd have thought it was a mistake - "honey" and "garlic" sound such unlikely bedfellows!
ReplyDeleteIt does seem an odd combination doesn't it? It is supposed to smell of garlic although we haven't noticed that yet:)
DeleteThe colours are lovely, a nice surprise for you!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pam.the colours are so delicate aren't they?:)
DeleteWhat a lovely surprise when the buds opened! It is such a beautiful plant - in fact, I don't think I have ever seen it before. Even better that bees love it too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, RR it was quite exciting waiting to see what would appear at the various stages of growth. It has been covered in bees today:)
DeleteThey are very pretty, I have never seen them before.
ReplyDeleteThanks Christina, it is most unusual. I'm so glad we bought and planted the bulbs:)
Delete