Bulb Flowers & Succulents 150 Species: Practical Illustrated Guide for Landscape Plants

Author: Xue Congxian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-06-01
Features: Bulbous plants, among perennial herbaceous flowers, have particularly roots and stems, forming bulbous or spherical shapes to store nutrients for germination and blooming. They are referred to as "bulbous plants." Based on the shape and location of the parts, they can be categorized into bulbs (e.g., lilies, amaryllis, narcissus, lily of the valley), corms (e.g., gladioli, saffron, freesia), tubers (e.g., gloxinia, caladium, phalaenopsis), root tubers (e.g., dahlias, orchids), and rhizomes (e.g., cannas, ginger lilies).
Bulbous plants can be divided into temperate or tropical varieties based on their native growing regions. Temperate varieties prefer cool climates (e.g., tulips, hyacinths, narcissus), and in southern China, it is difficult to cultivate blooming bulbs. Each year, bulbs are imported from other regions and grown for a short period before blooming. Tropical varieties (e.g., frangipani, lily of the valley, cannas) grow well year-round in southern China.
All bulbous plants share a common long-term drought-resistant habit—dormancy. The duration of dormancy varies by variety, lasting approximately 30 to 90 days. During dormancy, stems and leaves wither and die, storing nutrients in the underground bulb. However, some varieties only halt growth during dormancy without significant wilting (e.g., amaryllis, daylilies, freesia). In cultivation, low-temperature cold storage is often used to break dormancy and promote uniform blooming.
Succulent plants are defined as plants with, juicy stems and leaves that are drought-tolerant. Most succulent plants are native to arid desert regions. To adapt to harsh environments, their leaves gradually degenerate or become thick and water-storing. As a result, they are highly drought-resistant. When cultivating succulents, it is essential to maintain a dry state and avoid frequent watering.