Crimson Pixie>>Poor Performance.
Kind of a brain teaser. Read this and see what you think may have caused this. I have a couple ideas but it just boggles my mind how any weather influence could have such a broad base affect and so near 100% uniform. I'd like to hear even your wildest ideas, comments and questions on what caused this one.
Something quite unusual is happening this year with Crimson Pixie around here at my place. I've had this cultivar since the early 90's, always a dependable and steady performer. The first picture below is very typical of form and color, etc. But something strange is going on. This year all of the flowers are antherless and most don't even have a stigma. That's right! I have these in three separate gardens in pretty good numbers--about 100 bulbs or so, and every single flower is antherless. Moreover, the petals are not full as they should be. See second and third pictures. Bud count was less overall with many little ones turning white and aborting. Otherwise, the plants themselves look healthy and earlier this Spring while during clean up I moved a double nose out from some iris and it was huge, a perfect picture of health. In addition, a five gallon pot of these was forced, being brought inside in late January for early blooming. They had been in the pot for a full year prior and well established performers. All had good bud count: six stems had 5 and one stem had 4 full size buds and flowers with normal anthers and stigmas (see last pic). The petals, however, were just like the ones out there now--not full.
Here are some events to consider.
Over 11 inches of rain in October 2015
Over 6 inches of rain in November 2015
Winter season temperatures ran 4 to 6' F above monthly averages.
Spring season rainfall was average through April but only 1.25 inches of rain since May 1st, 2016.
Three late frosts and hard freeze conditions but no apparent or noticeable damage whatsoever to Asiatic (but was there?)
Spring daytime high temperatures have been seasonal or slightly below average.
The three gardens are about 200 feet apart from each other.
Typical
This year, next two
Last picture, forced pot/bud counts, etc.
