Re: crocosmia mystery

Hi Karrie -

Having gardened years ago in Davis, I think it is very possible that there
might be something in the water affecting plants like Crocosmias in this way. 
But I also wonder if the dry heat of the Valley is just too much for them. 
Our hottest areas here in the Bay Area can sometimes do what you describe.

The parents of these hybrids are native of summer rainfall temperate &
subtropical regions of South African as well as some in the Eastern Cape
(which may get rain at almost any time of the year).  The fact that they are
all dormant in winter should give us a clue.  Only one species (seldom grown),
Crocosmia fucata, comes from a single mountain range in winter rainfall
Namaqualand, within the summer-dry mediterranean region.

My observations of Crocosmias is that they enjoy relatively cool, moister
summers.  Indeed they have become naturalized on our foggy Northern Pacific
Coast in Calif. & Oregon - you'll find them blooming lushly in the verdant
roadside ditches along Hwy 1 at this time of year.  I think this is why these
plants have been such a favorite in the UK.

There are many nice blooming clumps in here in Berkeley right now, some very
lush and full of green-tipped leaves (with regular summer water, of course),
but then we've been in the more often than not this summer!

Crocosmias are often confused with Chasmanthe, another, similar South African
bulb, but these are true mediterranean region endemics, fully dormant right
now, showing theirt leaves in a month or so and flowering in late winter/early
spring before drying off in March again.

Seán A. O'Hara
sean(at)gimcw.org
www.hortulusaptus.com
(ask about mediterranean climate gardening forum)

> I just wonder if any of you Bay Area gardeners have had your water tested.
> Is it possible the Crocosmias are sensitive to something like the Boron
> content in Davis water.  Summer yields all sorts of tip burned plants there
> because of the Boron accumulation in summer.  Then in winter, it all gets
> flushed away and spring growth looks fine.  Just a thought...
> Karrie
>
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