Re: Crocosmia lucifer
- Subject: Re: Crocosmia lucifer
- From: G*
- Date: Thu, 9 Aug 2001 17:44:34 -0400
Hello Susan,
I went back and re-read the information I have available on Croscosmia in
"Hardy Herbaceous Perennials". Not a lot of help, really, but there is something I
have been ignoring. That is the number of species and hybrids from those species.
We are only talking "Lucifer" here... and book says only decent garden loam with
mulch is needed. They are more hardy than was originally thought, since they are
from South Africa. C. aurea is listed as Z 7-8. C. x crocosmiiflora Z 5-6. C.
masoniorum Z6, which includes our Lucifer. C. pottsii Z 6-7. There are numerous
hybrids within each species listed.Also states that Blessingham gardens is
introducing numerous hybrids for longer blooming season, increased hardiness.
So where are all the hybrids..... I have not been paying all that much
attention, but do not remember see many cultivars available in catalogs or garden
centers. Looked through my files of stored articles from gardening magazines over
the years and no article on practical gardening experience with species and named
hybrids.
Perhaps it is time to contact a couple of PPA members, wholesalers, and see
what I can find out.
Gene Bush Southern Indiana Zone 6a Munchkin Nursery
around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Campanini <campanin@ntx1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Subject: Crocosmia lucifer
> Gene's posts about browning Croscomia foliage brings to mind the big
> question: What makes this gorgeous plant happy?
> I have fallen in love with the brilliant dainty striking red
> blooms, but I have had mixed luck with the plants overwintering here in zone
> 5. One winter I had one live through, and I thought it was because it
> was planted in a raised scree bed with very good drainage. But that didn't
> work the next year ...
> Then I tried from tubers, but most of them didn't live through the
> winter and the ones that did are still very small so won't bloom this year
> and are in too much shade in order to protected from winter wet ...
> This year I bought one as a small plant, put it in the scree bed,
> and it bloomed nicely (but briefly because of lots of humidity, I think) and
> then the foliage turned completely brown ...
> Once I also tried buying a big plant in a pot (at Lowes!) in the
> early spring, but it was a wet spring and it rotted not long after being
> planted in the ground. Yet out in Oregon where my sister lives and it rains
> a LOT, croscosmia are practically weeds. BUT, it sounds as though they
> thrive in dry hot Southern California for some folks on this list.
> So--please--someone tell me what they really want--these blazing red
> beauties--if they are to live and bloom in zone 5?
>
> Susan and David in Urbana, Illinois, zone 5b
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