Crocosmias

David Fenwick cf018a3312@blueyonder.co.uk
Sun, 23 Feb 2003 03:45:49 PST
Hi Paul,
I knew you were a supporter. lol.

Firstly it is Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Solfatare' rather than 'Solfatore'
or as others refer to it 'Solfaterre'. Bred originally by Victor Lemoine of
France in 1886. Sadly it was referred to as 'Solfaterre' since 1887.
'Solfatare' is susceptible to red spider might and suffers from too much
direct sunshine and drought, but is a very fine variety in the right
position.

The other you refer to 'Citronella' is 99% probably wrongly named as
'Citronella' in the global trade now is a small yellow flowered pottsii
form. I now basically regard this form of 'Citronella' as a group rather
than a hybrid as there are many seedling varients of it, and some have
indeed been named. These include plants such as 'Morning Light', 'Citrina'
and 'Honey Bells'. 'Citronella' also has its synonyms and these include
'Golden Fleece' as well as others.

The error in the naming of this plant was unfortunately made by Graham
Stuart Thomas, who very much regrets what he did, but we all make mistakes;
and the name originated from a small yellow pottsii form found with Mark
Fenwick (no relation) at Gunby Hall, Lincolnshire.

The true Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Citronella' was bred by Jack Fitt and
Sydney Morris at Earlham Hall around 1918 and is one of the Earlham Giant
Strain.

Original Description
ROBUST GROWER, THREE TO FOUR FEET HIGH, BEARING LOVELY CITRON-YELLOW FLOWERS
Parentage - Messidor x Gerbe d'or - which were two of Victor Lemoine's
French hybrids.

The original description omits that that plant has chocolate markings in its
throat.
The true hybrid is probably extinct now, and was reported to be last seen
growing at the RHS Garden at Wisley in the 1980s.

>>>How much bigger are the "large flowered" forms?

The largest Crocosmia ever bred was Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Henry VIII'
and bred by Jack Fitt and Sydney Morris in 1918.

Original Description
THE LARGEST OF ALL THE MONTBRETIAS, FROM FOUR TO FIVE INCHES IN DIAMETER.
BRIGHT ORANGE WITH DARK MARKINGS. HEIGHT THREE FEET.

Even larger than 'Star of the East', sadly it one that has disappeared from
cultivation.

Larger forms to look out for include:

Star of the East
Queen of Spain (Earlham Hybrid)
Hades (Earlham Hybrid)
Nimbus (Earlham Hybrid)
Sir Mathew Wilson (Earlham Hybrid)
His Majesty (Earlham Hybrid)
Emily McKenzie (sport of Earlham Hybrid)
Mrs. Geoffrey Howard
Voyager (modern dutch)
Plaisir (modern dutch)
Babylon (if pot grown, modern dutch)

Incidentally pot culture can greatly increase the flower size of many of
these larger hybrids, they do need space though and I grow about 12 corms in
a 12 inch clay pot to get the best out of them. Many were also bred for the
cut flower market.

Over 100 named Earlham Hybrids were bred between 1913 and 1939, many had
flowers of three inches and over. Finding them is the main reason for
project with Norwich in Bloom and the http://www.crocosmiaheritage.com/ website.

Best Wishes,
Dave

David Fenwick
NCCPG National Collection of Crocosmia with Chasmanthe and Tulbaghia
The African Garden
96 Wasdale Gardens
Estover
Plymouth
Devon
England
PL6 8TW

Website: http://www.theafricangarden.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: "Paul Tyerman" <ptyerman@ozemail.com.au>
To: "Pacific Bulb Society" <pbs@lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2003 10:55 AM
Subject: [pbs] Re: Crocosmias


> David,
>
> >
> >Most people will know that like Alan, the collection holder of
Schizostylis,
> >I am the NCCPG National Collection holder of Crocosmia with Chasmanthe.
The
> >remark Shirley made is very common, (nothing personal Shirley), it
reports
> >correctly to a few varieties of Crocosmia, but the rest of the genus
should
> >not be given a bad name because of the few.
> >
>
> As I said in my original email (which I assume was the first 'nail'
<grin>)
> the other forms other than the basic orange are far better behaved.  I
grow
> 'Lucifer' and just love the wonderful red of it, plus I have 'Citronella'
> which is a wonderful clear yellow (which looks wonderful in flower in the
> pot beside 'Lucifer' at the moment).  I also have 'Solfatore' which has
> struggled and almost died out for me.  All mine are being grown in pots at
> the moment until I can work out whether they are safe in teh garden.  By
> the sound of it Lyn grows her 'Luficer' in the garden which bodes well for
> me (Lyn is about 20 minutes from here) and I may just try it at some
point,
> otherwise they'll just stay in the pots and look very nice as they have
> this year.
>
> I have seen pics a year or so ago of some wonderful hybrids (or seed
> variants... I don't know), some of which had dark halos and peachy shades
> etc.  I would love to try some of them and I must admit that seeing them
is
> the reason I purchased 'Citronella' and 'Solfatore' as I rather loved the
> different colours.  I am still to have 'Solfatore' flower and I have
> recently heard that it is similar to 'Citronella' which is unfortunate if
> true.
>
> I do not know of many sources here in Australia of many of the different
> colour variants.  If any Aussies on the list have other varieties I would
> be interested in hearing from them as I would love to get some more
colours
> of these and they will all stay in pots for the time being <grin>.
>
> As you said David, it is unfortunate that a genus gets slighted by just a
> few of it's more thug-like members.  I have also started collected Oxalis
> in the last couple of years and it took me quite a while to accept that
> some of them WEREN'T thugs given my experiences of them.... now I dearly
> love some of the varieties like O. palmifrons and O. polyphylla var
> heptaphylla (to name but 2) as they are just so un-oxalis-like.  The old
> IBS list was my reason for re-evaluating my position on Oxalis and
> conversations like this one may help people re-evaluate their opinions of
> the Crocosmias as well.  I am glad that this came up as it is another bit
> to learn!!  I for one was interested to hear of some of the different
> species and varieties.  How much bigger are the "large flowered" forms?
>
> Cheers.
>
> Paul Tyerman
> Canberra, Australia.  USDA equivalent - Zone 8/9
> mailto:ptyerman@ozemail.com.au
>
> Growing.... Galanthus, Erythroniums, Fritillarias, Cyclamen, Crocus,
> Cyrtanthus, Liliums, Hellebores, Aroids, Irises plus just about anything
> else that doesn't move!!!!!
>
> _______________________________________________
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