Re: crocosmia mystery

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The one problem I've had with crocosmias is that in very dry summer weather (when I lived in Seattle) water-stressed plants would become very susceptible to spider mites. This only happened with the rampant orange ones. Lucifer multiplied well but I wouldn't call it invasive. I didn't have much of a spider mite problem on it.

Here in Istanbul I finally found some crocosmias, probably the orange one. They made it through the summer but didn't bloom. They were quite stressed as I got them in the spring but they were almost certainly leftovers from the fall batch of bulbs (they don't come into the stores in spring here).  So they had lots of catching up to do!

Since your problem seems to be with them burning/drying, but you have trouble in shade, then I'd try and find a compromise - perhap a place with well-prepared soil that gets morning light but is sheltered from the hottest afternoon sun. I'm sure they'll be happy somewhere!

Bob Beer sazci@hotmail.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alice laughed. 'There's not use trying,' she said: `one can't believe impossible things.' 'I daresay you haven't had much practice,' said the Queen. `When I was your age, I always did it for half-an-hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast...' - Lewis Carroll

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From: "Linda - The Lavender Lady" <mtnstar@ocsnet.net>
Reply-To: mtnstar@ocsnet.net
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Subject: Re: crocosmia mystery
Date: Tue, 7 Aug 2007 10:07:59 -0700

I came across this website which has some good pictures and descriptions of different Crocosmia varieties and their history.  They also sell a few varieties:

 

http://www.simplesite.com/crocosmia

 

I remember I had crocosmia and blackberry lily growing when I lived in Foresthill and loved them.  The blooms would stretch toward the sun - we had a heavily forested property and I planted them in the sunniest spot I had.  I had heavy clay soil there and only watered once a week.  I have found the crocosmia and blackberry lily both like a top dressing of compost once a year which helps them bloom better.  I only have the blackberry lily growing at this location, I will have to try a named variety of crocosmia again and see what success I have with it.

 

Linda