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| Category: Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc. |
| Family: Amaryllidaceae (Onions) |
| Origin: Peru (South America) |
| Flower Color: Orange |
| Bloomtime: Summer/Fall |
| Synonyms: [S.incarnatum, Clinanthus variegatus]
variegatus] |
| Height: 1-2 feet |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Stenomesson variegatum - A large bulb with flat strap-shaped gray-green arching 30" long leaves. In summer into fall appear the 2 foot tall thick upright leafless stems bearing open umbrella shaped clusters of 3-4 inch long trumpet shaped orange flowers with dark green petal tips. The newly emerging inflorescence emerges just prior to the leaves but the leaves persist long after the flowers so this bulb seems nearly evergreen. Many small offset bulbs are produced, increasing the size of a planted colony. Easy to cultivate. Plant in full sun to light shade (requires shade inland). Water well when inflorescence is first noticed as this is a signal that new leaves are about to emerge. Hardy to at least 20 F and a bit below this. Great for pots or in the ground in mild climate areas. Endemic to the Andes in Peru where it inhabits grasslands between 7,500 to 12,000 ft. First described in 1931 by the legendary Harvard field botanist J. Francis Macbride from his Flora of Peru Series. From Greek 'stenos' meaning "narrow" and 'messos' meaning "middle" from the shape of the flower. In 2000, Alan Meerow, CHARLES L. GUY and QIN-BAO LI, SI-LIN YANG published a paper titled "Phylogeny of the American Amaryllidaceae based on nrDNA ITS sequences", in Systematic Botany that split the plants previously included in Stenomesseae Tribe into two separate groups with a resurrected name of Clianthus to be used for the species, like Stenomesson variegatum, that had strap-shaped leaves. Clinanthus, a name first used by William Herbert in 1821 to describe Pancratium luteum comes from 'klitus' meaning "a mountainous declivity" and 'anthos' meaning "a flower" in reference to the downward inclination of the flowers. This makes the correct name for this plant Clinanthus variegatus (Ruiz & Pav.) Meerow but we await wider usage of this name before changing our listing. Our thanks to John Bleck for sharing with us this beautiful bulb.
This information about Stenomesson variegatum displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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