Actually, J L I don't recall seeing signs of virus on the sepals but of course I could be wrong. It usually takes exposure in the hot sun for a good amount of time before the signs appear and that is usually on the leaves first Evergreen is a Dutch bulb and these are less prone to virus than say bulbs from South America so no, I don't think I'd worry just yet. As the buds pop out the sepals will degrade and shrivel so that may be the start of what yours is doing.

Sometimes on a new bulb that is highly virused, it will show in the stem. Take a good picture of your stem and if it looks like this, run for the hills!! (kidding)...I"ve had only 2 bulbs that showed this mottling on the stems and I got rid of them both.

As I threw this bulb away as soon as it bloomed and never got to see the leaves which may not have shown the virus as this bulb never saw the outdoors in its short life with me, I determined that it was sick indeed.

Hopefully, others will jump in with their ideas as I certainly don't have the definitive word on what is or isn't virused!

Now there is always the possibility that my mottled stem is the result of too much insecticide or whatever chemicals they used to treat the bulbs before shipping overseas, I don't know.

Donna

Thanks Donna! I will keep an eye on it. The bulb was definitely a little damaged when I bought it, so it might just be the jostling around on the journey to the store. The stem does not look mottled (atleast not yet)!