Re: Crocosmia article

Hello,
    I made a call to sunny Border of Ohio and talked to the sales rep there about the crocosmia they carry in their wholesale catalog.
    The short version on the discussion was "it is not so much hardiness issue as site you choose for transplanting" They list all 7 of their cultivars as zones 6 - 9. I was told that, in general, the reds are easiest, then oranges and most touchy are the yellow shades of color in bloom. When all is said and done, all of them can be touchy in transplanting. They are not easily grown plants for everyone, everywhere.
    Having said that, it you like them, try them. If you really like them, it may take more than one try in the garden. pH can be a long-term factor as they do prefer sweet soils.
    End of story.
    Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
g*@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: P*@cs.com
Subject: Crocosmia article

Gene,

I originally began this thread on Crocosmia by asking about 'Solfaterre',
which I had seen in an article about Crocosmias in the Better Homes and
Gardens Flower Gardening issue Summer 2001 (www.bhg.com).  
In this article there are several cultivars pictured, along with a small but
interesting article.  It said, and I thought it  was fitting, that Crocosmia
are related to Gladiolus and Freesia.  Now the character of those ethereal
plants are quite known to me.  Now you see them, now you don't.
I myself have two types,, Lucifer, which started out at about 15 corms,
didn't do much that year, and now the second year shows about 4 plants.  They
did flower however, including one in shady clay.  The other C. or
"Montbretia" is of unknown name that I bought jam-packed in a pot at a
charity plant sale.  Grows like WEEDS.  Is shorter, orangier, with narrower,
limey leaves.
My friend bought her Lucifer already potted and blooming.  The second year
was even better than the first.  This year, the third year, gave her brown
leaves--- apparently dead.

By the way, the article names 'Jenny Bloom' as being the other most hardy
cultivar besides Lucifer.
My two kids went to England this summer, just got back actually, and were
going to visit the "National Collection of Crocosmia', in GB. which is
supposed to be home to more than 150 varieties of Crocosmia, but we could
never find the address.  I'm sure they were SO disappointed to miss that!
(They're 13 & 15)

SP
Portland, OR
zone 7-8
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