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Bulbs

Gethyum atropurpureum

very dark purple gethyum

A winter-growing, summer-dormant, perennial bulbous plant from Chile; where it inhabits sharply-draining, poor soils on rocky slopes, often in dry forests. Narrow-petalled brownish star-shaped flowers are produced in winter and spring and can smell unpleasantly of carrion when they are mature

Synonyms

Solaria atropurpurea

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full shade
Partial shade

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Gethyum is a small, bulbous genus in the onion family with star-shaped flowers that superficially resemble orchids
Name status: Correct
Plant range: C Chile

How to grow

Cultivation

As a summer-dormant bulb growth commences in autumn. Water sparingly initially and moderately when in full growth. The plant needs a sharply-draining growing medium and is intolerant of permanently wet soil. Withhold watering as leaves die down in summer and the bulb enters dormancy

Propagation

Propagate by seed and offsets

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants
Sub-tropical
Wall side borders

Pruning

Prune back dead leaves and flower stems

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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