o f the,
Crocosmia and Himalaya Blackberries
In late summer along roadsides, beach
accesses, vacant property and in some gardens grow
clumps of trumpet orange-yellow flowers on
outstretched spikes accentuated by dark green sword
shaped leaves, a plant that thrives in our mild coastal
weather to grow as profusely as the Himalaya
blackberries. Neither of these plants is native to the
area. There is no record as to when they were first
brought here; both are more robust in growth than
some of the native flora. Their roots have sunk deep
in our soil. The bright orange flowers of Montbretia,
botanical name Crocosmia, do brighten the landscape,
and it has become a tradition to gather Himalaya
blackberries for pies, cobblers, and jam.
Visitors unfamiliar with the name of
Montbretia and who admire the plants have asked
about them and where they could buy some. To the
surprise and delight of one visitor, who had stopped
me to ask about the plant, I pulled several stalks -
flowers, leaves, corms and all - and handed them to
her. I failed to tell her to be careful where she planted
them as they soon will take over a garden space. It
usually takes muscle and a strong spade to edit them
from the garden. Montbretia can grow into thick
clumps. It multiplies by sending out white
underground runners called stolens. These runners
develop more corms and in time will produce a
substantial clump.
I learned more about the history of crocosmia
in a recent article in “The Garden,” a garden
magazine published by the Royal Horitcultural
Society. The article noted that most species are
indigenous to eastern South Africa. There are 10
known species in the genus. Five of these species have
survived in ultivation in Great Britain for more than
100 years. In the late 1870’s two of these species
were crossed. The result of this cross was a vigorous
orange-flowered hybrid classified as Crocosmia x
crocosmiflora, better known as Montbretia. By the
turn of the century it had naturalized in mild coastal
regions of the British Isles and Europe. While referred
to as a garden escapee, in many places it was likely to
have been evicted from gardens. The article also
added that this plant had naturalized in so many parts
of the temperate and subtropical world that it is
regarded as a world-wide weed.
Montbretia was originally bred as a half-hardy
pot plant grown in conservatories and greenhouses to
provide cut flowers in the late summer. France was the
center of crocosmia breeding. In 1960 Graham Stuart
Thomas did much to reawaken interest in this genus,
and Alan Bloom introduced a new hybrid, C. Lucifer.
The flowers of C. Lucifer are brilliant red and the
plant can grow four feet or more in height. In the last
several years this hybrid has been introduced to grow
in gardens here on the north coast. Last summer in
front of Hane’s Bakery and Cottage Apts., C.
Lucifer’s beautiful red flowers added color to the
landscape growing with hybrid grasses and other tall
plants. A few years ago I planted them in my own
garden and have noticed that the bright red flowers
attract many hummingbirds. I have found, however,
that C. Lucifer multiplies like Montbretia.
The article lists 38 crocosmia hybrids. Their
heights range from 28” to the tallest, C. Zeal Giant,
which grows to 71”. The foliage colors range from
dark to light green and bronze, the flowers from pale
yellow to saffron yellow, orange and red. A recent
introduced hybrid from the Netherlands, C. Babylon,
has 2 1/4” red flowers with bright yellow centers.
Some of these hybrids have been bred for the flowers
to face upwards; most are trumpet shaped.
One of the last gardens we visited while in
England was landscape designer and lecturer
Christopher Lloyd’s home and garden at Great
Dexter. Lloyd is known for using a mixture of colors
in his flower beds with berried shrubs, interesting
branched deciduous trees, shrubs with different colors
of foliage and leaf patterns mixed with conifers.
“Zing” is a word that has been used to
describe colorful flower combinations Lloyd uses in
his garden designs, mixing orange and red colors with
the more familiar choice of all-pastel hues. His
garden was an example of his designs, not styled
formally but informal mixtures of colors, textures, and
patterns. Many English gardens we toured devoted
parts of their gardens to raising vegetables, fruits and
herbs. Lloyd raised artichokes. We asked the guide
about the two large fields of these plants that bordered
the flower gardens. Our question was, “Did he raise
them to sell?” The guide’s answer was, “No, Lloyd
loves artichokes and gives them away to his friends for
presents.” Lloyd’s garden reminded me of many
Cannon Beach gardens. Artichokes grow well in our
climate, and our gardens “zing” with orange and red
crocosmias. I didn’t see any of these plants in his
flower beds, but I’m sure many of us would be willing
to share a box or two of corms if he ever visited our
area.
Here’s a thought: every visitor that comes to
our town would not be allowed to leave without a bag
of crocosmia corms and a slip from the vines of
Himalaya blackberries. After all, we should share our
bounty of color and fruit.
^hotograyhy
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It’s best to have all your bulbs planted by the
end of October for next year’s spring and early
summer flowers.
For more unusual flowers, plant Allium bulbs.
There are many varieties. A. azureum have large,
deep lilac star,ike flowers with a metallic sheen. The
compact clusters that form a globe shape on a 24 -
26’ leafless stem, when dried are also used for winter
arrangements. Smaller varieties are effective in rock
gardens or borders.
In nature there an neither rewards
or punishments; there are only
consequences.
Robert B. Ingersoll
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