Way back in the early 80's (grin) We were helping a friend move into his aunt's home. I was taken by her garden, especially the striking bright orange flowers. My friend said they were Montbretia and that he had helped his aunt plant them back in the 60's. She got them from a friend who got them years before.....they are lovely blooms and I would like to add pics of them to the Plant database, but want to give them their correct name. Were there cultivars back in the late 50's early 60's, or just species?
Name: Evan Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA (Zone 6a)
I can't help with the ID Moonhowl but I remember finding several good articles on Crocosmia. If memory serves a great deal of breeding took place in the 19th century into the 20th. They were very popular in the UK and have naturalized there so yours could be a cultivar.
Thanks Evan...I have read through a few articles....seems a lot of old hybrids were lost completely during WW2....and kind of forgotten until the 1960's when a huge flush of new cultivars hit the market. My plants don't form clumps, they scatter and they grow in pretty much full shade. I do believe I will have to settle for C pottsii X Montbretia cultivar as the official name for mine.
Hi J....thanks for the suggestion. The general color and size are close, but mine do not have the really wide red markings that 'Meteore" has. Mine are narrow red stripes that are very faint on some blooms and a bit darker on others. I figured it was a long shot given how many Montbretia cultivars are out there.
I will let this stay open a few days JIC ....Thanks to you both.
I had the opportunity to speak with the person who originally planted the Montbretia back in the early 50's. It was in the landscaping for his architect firm and also at his home. He said they were just plain natural cross of Montebretia....Crocosmia x crocosmiflora. He got the corms from a cousin in Ireland. In the link pics, it shows the small red markings in the throat.
