Acis autumnalis (autumn snowflake)

Japanese name: アキザキスノーフレーク
Scientific name: Acis autumnalis

[Overview]
A perennial 10–15 cm tall, growing in its native habitat on rocky, stony hills.
It has a bulb 1.5 cm across underground.
6–7 simple basal leaves appear, very slender and linear, 20–25 cm long.
The leaves appear after flowering and die back before the rainy season the following year, when the plant goes dormant; there are usually no leaves at flowering time.
At the tip of a flower stalk 10–15 cm tall, 1–4 flowers bloom in an umbel, facing downward.
There are bracts at the base of the inflorescence.
The flowers are bell-shaped, 1 cm across, with 6 petals in pale pink to white, and pink at the base.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by bulb division.
The bulbs are weak against drying out, so leave them planted without digging them up and let them go dormant.
If digging them up, store them buried in vermiculite or sawdust so they do not dry out.
It prefers sunny, well-drained soil, and can overwinter outdoors in frost-free areas.
In areas with frost, protect it from frost, or grow it in a pot and bring it indoors.
For potted plants, during the growing period water thoroughly when the soil surface dries; once the leaves begin to turn yellow, gradually keep it on the dry side, and withhold water during dormancy.
For plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizing is particularly needed.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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