Marco Devecchi

Ornamental geophytes, renowned for their beauty, hold a special place among flower enthusiasts and producers, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of gardens and orchards. The main aim of this study was to ascertain the viability of cultivating decay-resistant genotypes and identify appropriate planting locations for each species within a one-to-three-year timeframe, contingent upon the specific species. The research took place at the Flower and Plant Production Center of the Gorgan Municipality’s Landscape and Urban Green Space Organization in Iran, with the primary focus on leveraging various geophyte flower species to optimize urban landscapes and elevate their visual allure. Utilizing a completely randomized block design with three replications, the study examined numerous species in the landscape. Various plant growth parameters were evaluated, including flowering time, optimal planting time, flower longevity on the plants, speed of underground bulb sprouting time, and visual quality of the samples. Results revealed that Narcissus jonquilla and Alstroemeria aurea cv. Balance exhibited the longest flower longevity, lasting for 43 days in the second year of growth. Conversely, Gladiolus hybrida (cv. Alexander) and Canna indica (cv. Flaccida and cv. Phasion) demonstrated a flower longevity of 13 days across both cultivation years. Alstroemeria and Crocosmia showed the shortest flowering time, significantly reduced compared to the first year due to the altered planting time. The assessment of visual quality highlighted Polianthes, Dahlia, and Gladiolus cultivars as displaying the highest visual appeal among the studied species. These findings yield valuable insights into the potential production and/or breeding of decay-resistant hybrid cultivars well suited for such regions.