Practical
Plants

Dichelostemma volubile

Snake Lily

a member of the Dichelostemma genus in the family Alliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Alliaceae
Height
3.6 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Corm - raw or cooked[2][3][6].

Plant part
Root

Environment

Range
South-western N. America.
Habitat
Clay or granite, bushy or open slopes below 750 metres in California, where it clambers over shrubs[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a free-draining compost in a cold frame[5]. Sow stored seed in spring in a cold frame[4]. Seedlings are prone to damping off and so should be kept well ventilated[4]. Germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[4]. If the seed is sown thinly enough, it can be grown on for its first year without transplanting and then the dormant bulbs can be planted 2/3 to a pot. Otherwise prick out the seedlings when large enough to handle, planting them 2/3 to a pot. Grow on the plants in a greenhouse for at least two years before planting out in late spring after the last expected frosts. Division in autumn of offsets that have reached flowering size[1]. Dig up the clumps of bulbs and replant the larger ones into their permanent positions. It is best to pot up the smaller ones and grow them on for a year in a cold frame before planting them out.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a rich sandy loam and a well-drained soil[1]. Succeeds in most soils and situations so long as the ground is well-drained[7]. Likes plenty of moisture whilst in growth, followed by a warm dry period in late summer to autumn[5]. Plants are not very hardy and may require protection in severe winters[1]. This can be provided by applying a good organic mulch such as dry bracken in late autumn and removing it in the spring. Alternatively, you can cover the ground with a cloche or similar device. Plants are susceptible to rot in wet winters. Plants are often found growing with Rhus toxicodendron in the wild[9]. A very ornamental plant, it can flower in 2 years from seed.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

  3. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  4. Bird. R. (Editor) Focus on Plants. Volume 5. (formerly 'Growing from seed') Thompson and Morgan. 1991-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  7. Grey. C. H. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate. 1938-00-00

    ↩

  8. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

  9. Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1

    ↩

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