Allotments 4 All
Produce => Non Edible Plants => Topic started by: caroline7758 on July 28, 2006, 18:57:35
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A clump of crocosmia, which flowered beautifully in its first year last year, appears to have died. Some of the leaves are brown and the buds have shrivelled. I'm guessing this is due to the heat, but since other things in the same bed are ok, I wondered if it could be anything else?
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All of ours have gone the same way. They do like a goodly amount of water in the growing season.
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I see some of mine are turning brown as well and we have had more rain than a lot of you living in the south. My Phlox leaves are also dying back although I do have some flowers. All Astilbes have died back except the one I got from Mimi which looks fine. Rain is forecast tomorrow though. :-\ :-\ :-\ :-\
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I have a clump of Crocosmia Lucifer which flowered very poorly. Same with the daylilies and I'm struggling to keep shrubs like Hydrangeas alive.... :'(
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Guess it's the weather, then. Think I've spent too much time looking after the veggies & ignored the flowers. I'm not really in the south, Carol (North Yorkshire) but, apart from a storm last Saturday we've had very little rain- hoping for some tomorrow.
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I find it quite amazing that Crocosmia is dying in this weather. They are South African natives and this is an almost ideal environment for them. Mine are spectacular this year and the ones on the roadsides here are in full flower and doing beautifully. ???
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Out of interest, Deeds, whereabouts are you?
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Crocosmia Do tend to to go brown with red spider mite in these present very dry growing conditions.
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Had a look at ours through a microscope and there are no signs of any insects on them. they still have dried up though. Some of them are struggling to flower, but at half the normal height.
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When we are talking Crocosmia, could I just establish that we are talking about is the likes of Lucifer, as opposed to what used to be called montbretia in my early gardening days.
Either way, I am amazed that anyone is having difficulty growing any of them, as in my book they are complete thugs.
Just be grateful that they have not managed to establish!!
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I have several clumps of 'Lucifer' in my garden. Most of them have to some degree been moved and/or divided within the last year. I have noticed that whilst they have flowered Ok this year, growth on one or two clumps was not as strong and the flowering has not lasted as long as usual. I initialy put this down to the plants being moved, however the weather has undoubtedly contributed. A couple of the plants are also planted in soil which gets dry due to root competition from trees and a hedge.
Hoping now for a wet(ish) spring '07 to boost them up for next summer.
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Definitely drought.
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/drought_1.jpg)
Crocosmia Lucifer (normally very vigorous)
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/drought_2.jpg)
Another Crocosmia
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/drought_3.jpg)
Rodgersia
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/drought_4.jpg)
Euphorbia Mellifera (an established shrub grown from seed!)
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/drought_5.jpg)
Acer palmatum
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/drought_6.jpg)
Amalanchier canadensis
(http://www.vrombaut.co.uk/GARDEN-PICS/drought_7.jpg)
Actaea simplex (DEAD :'()
Daylilies, Hydrangeas, Eucomis, ferns, Pulmonaria etc. all suffering too.
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Crocosmia and Monbretia are one and the same. There are 8 species in South Africa and dozens of hybrids and different colour forms. They are most closely related to Freesias. The name Monbretia was used for C. masonorum until it was realised that it was actually a Crocosmia.
It seems to be the hybrids which are suffering most and it seems to be linked to a dryness at the roots. The one clump of ours (?Severn seas) which is near to the lowest point of the grden and so gets the most water is doing better than the ones at the top of the garden where the soil is still dust.
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My montbretia has done absolutely nothing, while a much bigger species I have (I don't know the name) managed to flower earlier, but has keeled over now.
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My thuggish monbretia is also suffering and I'm SO pleased 8) - it's made me suffer enough for the past few years while I've tried to eradicate it >:(
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Out of interest, Deeds, whereabouts are you?
I'm in Cornwall
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My thuggish monbretia is also suffering and I'm SO pleased 8) - it's made me suffer enough for the past few years while I've tried to eradicate it >:(
I'm with you on that one ;D
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What chance is there of them recovering and flowering next year, do you think? Or should I buy some new ones?
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I would wait and see. It is more likely that they will recover than that they will die.
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They're so tough i think they're indestructible. I'm sure I can hear mine shouting 'the world will hear from me again!' like Fu Manchu used to at the end of every film.
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Alishka and Deeds, we are obviously soulmates in the question of the THUG montbretia.
It's taking time, but I think I'm getting the better of if, in most parts of the garden.
Wish you luck in your efforts.
valmarg
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I should point out that for some reason crocosmia is NOT a problem in my garden.
The only problem I have is that when they flower its never for long enough!
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Ok confession time - 1 do have some lots that I really, really like
Emily McKenzie
Rowalane Yellow
Devil's Advocate
Honey Angels
None of these really bulk up quiclky - and my favourite Rowalane Yellow is agonisingly slow.
I also have Culzean Pink, but have to watch that one as it spreads like wildfire.
I have a friend who is the National Collection Holder and his collection is amazing - but he will insist on giving me plants :-X
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oooh Deeds, sounds like heaven.
The first bed when you come into my garden is the HOT bed and I have several varieties of Crocosmia. Some reds but also opal fruit soft orange through to canary yellow. I bought a new one at Tatton this year ( at work & can't remember the variety) which has large open forward facing flowers. £4 for a small pot most of which had only one corm in but I hunted around and got 4.
They look great amongst the tall dark leaved lobelias - Queen Victoria etc.
This year the canary yellow's are the only ones that have failed. The rest are reasonably well behaved, but are mostly named hybrid's which may have a lot to do with it.
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I have a compact yellow one called 'Citronella', that I bought at a show. Hasnt flowerd that well for me since I got it, but I moved it to a better position this year so hoping for a beter show in a few weeks time.
I also have Lucifer, and a compact small flowered red which his vigourous in spread but isnt as invasive as the common montbretia. Had it for quite a few years but sadly dont know its name.
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You could always try to identify it here.http://www.theafricangarden.com/page38.html (http://www.theafricangarden.com/page38.html)
(ps this is porn for Crocosmia lovers)
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You could always try to identify it here.http://www.theafricangarden.com/page38.html (http://www.theafricangarden.com/page38.html)
(ps this is porn for Crocosmia lovers)
I should say!
The plant in question is not quite in flower yet so have 'bookmarked' the site and will have a look when its out. The thing I find is though, with some of these plants the difference between hybrids is so subtle that I cant work out which is which!
Thanks fo the link though.
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(http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r101/mark852784/BestForm.jpg)
Being the National Collection Holder of crocosmia......... this post made me smile.
There is only one thug in the crocosmia world and that is the orange one called crocosmia x crocosmiiflora or commonly known as Montbretia.
Different varieties like different conditions, that's why some do well in the heat and some don't........
If a plant has Aurea in it, then it will like shade and rich humus soil as Aurea species plants in South Africa grow in woodland areas.
If it has Pottsii in it, then it will like its feet wet as the Pottsii species grows on riverbanks..........
I could go on and on but won't as I dont really want to bore you too much.
Crocosmia are a very misunderstood plant and has a bad name due to that orange thug........ but trust me they aren't all the same!!
Anyway i just wanted to add my twopence worth as I adore crocosmia........
Mark
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Like others, I'm puzzled by the failures. Mine have done very well this year - both the common thuggish orange ones, which spread everywhere, and some much larger bright red ones which looked lovely until they finished flowering a little while ago. Picture attached.
[attachment=1]
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Like others, I'm puzzled by the failures.
If my memory serves me right, 2006 was the hottest driest year for decades. 2007 & 2008 had just a tad more rain.
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Yes 2006 was very dry............... but if you kept them watered they would have been ok. Some of mine turned brown too, but it doesn't affect the plants regrowth the next year.
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Yes 2006 was very dry............... but if you kept them watered they would have been ok. Some of mine turned brown too, but it doesn't affect the plants regrowth the next year.
Same here. They keep growing and multiplying even if the leaves turn brown. No brown leaves for me this year though.