Crocosmia

AGM by Roundtable FINAL Report 2016

© RHS

Author Kirsty Angwin AGM round table coordinator, The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Woking, Surrey, GU23 6QB

CROCOSMIA AGM Awards List 2016

AGM by roundtable discussion is a method of awarding AGM when the genus/ plant group in question displays any or all of the following criteria:

 impractical/ impossible to trial  not in the trials plan for the next 5 years  proposing plant committee does not contain the expertise to recommend ‘in house’  small number of plants to assess and has the following attributes:

 current lack of AGMs  relevant to today’s gardener  outside expertise is identified

Present at Meetings: There were no meetings as this round table was conducted and completed by email.

The Crocosmia forum was created by the RHS bulb plant committee to assess Crocosmia in 2016. Those on the forum were: Lady Christine Skelmersdale (Chairperson), Mr Bob Brown, Mr Jamie Blake, Mrs Elizabeth MacGregor, Mr Mark Fox, Mr Mark Walsh and Mr John Foley to assess a total of 73 Crocosmia cultivars.

It was judged that the forum made up from the RHS Bulb committee, members of the RHS Herbaceous Committee, the National collection holder and nursery specialists had sufficient and comprehensive knowledge to arrive at a sound conclusion on the cultivars awarded.

Criteria for voting included:  Be available to the public  Must be of outstanding excellence for garden decoration or use  Good constitution  Not require highly specialist growing conditions or care  Not be particularly susceptible to any pest or disease  Stable in form and colour

The Panel recommended the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT to:

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Babylon’ Hardiness rating: H4

Description: Large deep orange flowers with a paler centre. Habit upright, erect spikes.

Forum comments: Large open heads above leaves. Good doer. Very showy large flowers of browny-red. Reliable performer and fairly weather resistant flowers. Spreads moderately. Upright large blooms, this variety has stood the test of time. Vigorous, late flowering, large flowered red. Exceptional plant, bulks up very well and unique.

Picture Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Babylon’

©Mark Fox

Crocosmia ‘Ellenbank Firecrest’ Hardiness rating: H4

Description: Bright yellow blooms with orange-red edges to each tepal. Apple green leaves, habit upright, spikes with arch at the top. Introduced 2004.

Forum comments: Excellent bicoloured form, flowers held nicely above the leaves, long flowering period. Buttercup yellow bicoloured flowers, edged red. Lovely plant, two toned, grows very well and is hardy.

Picture Crocosmia ‘Ellenbank Firecrest’

©Mark Fox

Crocosmia ‘Hellfire’ Hardiness rating: H5

Description: Blooms deep velvet-red clustered atop tall spikes. Intense red outward facing flowers. The inner tepals are much larger than the outer three. Habit upright, erect spikes but can fall to an open clump after time. Flowers July to August on dark stems, pleated foliage.

Forum comments: Flowers have great impact, foliage good. Excellent plant and colour, making a good statement and a clumper not a runner. Very floriferous. An excellent early flowering cultivar. Picture Looks Crocosmia good in any ‘Hellfire border.’ Plant. ©Bob Brown

Crocosmia ‘Limpopo’ Hardiness rating: H4

Description: Large clusters of open flowers with uneven petals. Deep orange with a yellow centre marked with deep red spits. Slight salmon tinge. Long flowering July – October and very vigorous.

Forum comments: Distinct flower colour and pleasing form. A good clumper. Free flowering, large flowers and reliable. A pretty plant with large blooms.

Picture Crocosmia ‘Limpopo’

©Bob Brown

Crocosmia ‘Paul’s Best Yellow’ Hardiness rating: H4

Description: large clear golden yellow flowers on an upward facing stem. Blooms more clustered at end of the spike. The flowers face outwards and are rounded to flattish. Habit upright, spikes erect with arch at top. Flowers July – September.

Forum comments: Colour, vigor, foliage exceptionally good. “If you must have a yellow, this will do it.” Good flower form, good presence. Quite tall but a good clumper. Very floriferous. Fully deserves an AGM, early to flower and a long flower period. Excellent cultivar, large pure yellow flowers.

Picture Crocosmia ‘Paul’s Best Yellow’

©Bob Brown

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Saracen’ Hardiness rating: H4

Description: Blooms open with rounded over-lapping tepals, brownish-orange with darker bases. Centre of the flower is butter – yellow with mahogany markings. Habit upright, erect spikes. Flowers July – September.

Forum comments: Good habit, an unusual plant. Large bold flowers which combine well with foliage. Good presence. Increases steadily. A good combination of orange/red blooms and bronzed leaves, a good shorter form and reliable year to year – worthy of AGM. Rare red/bronze leaves. A beautiful plant, with beautiful markings.

Picture Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Saracen’

©Bob Brown

Crocosmia ‘Zeal Giant’

Hardiness rating: H4

Description: Blooms soft salmon-orange on tall upright upright spikes that arch at the top.

Forum comments: Unusual, good flowering habit and good colour. A unique form and stunning when established. Well worth an AGM for its huge leaves and spikes and salmon orange blooms. Tall, sturdy and very beautiful.

Picture Crocosmia ‘Zeal Giant’

©Mark Wash

The Panel re-confirmed the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT to:

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Star of the East’ Hardiness rating: H4

Description: Large open flowers, orange-yellow with overlapping tepals. Habit upright, erect spikes. Exceptionally large open orange flowers on branching stems. Flowers July - October.

Forum comments: Worth retaining the AGM, whilst a little fussy it is good once in a clump and the blooms are outstanding. A boldly stated flower held well over the stems. Good seed heads. Vigorous spread but very floriferous. Flowers for a long period. Forms open groups. Superb, late flowering, huge flowers. An old favourite, very pretty.

Picture Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Star of the East’

©Bob Brown

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ Hardiness rating: H4/H5

Description: Blooms, tubular tomato red with yellow bases. Arching sprays of intense orange-red flowers on tall stems. Habit upright leaves but tend to arch with age. Flowers June to August.

Forum comments: The earliest variety. A good red with upwards facing flowers, distinct. Very floriferous. Good in gardens, well-known and persistent. The first to flower, very reliable. This has to retain its AGM. Very popular, available, early to flower.

Picture Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’

©Bob Brown

Crocosmia ‘Severn Sunrise’ Hardiness: H4

Description: Salmon-orange blooms, aging to pinkish- apricot, rounded tepals. Flowers clustered tight at the top of the spike. Habit upright, erect spikes with an arch at the top. Flowers August to October and pleated leaves.

Forum comments: Lovely and robust plant. This plant has attractive soft toned blooms held in clusters on the upright spikes. Excellent cultivar, vigorous, unique peachy colour. Grows very well. A lovely plant.

Picture Crocosmia ‘Severn Sunrise’

©Bob Brown

The Panel rescinded the Society's AWARD OF GARDEN MERIT from:

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Carmin Brilliant’ Forum comments: Thinly flowered for a brief period. Superseded by newer varieties. Not hardy enough in northern areas.

Crocosmia masoniorum ‘Rowallane Yellow’ Forum comments: Rather invasive. Few flowered, fewer scapes. Bad habit of chocolate spots on leaves and weak growing. Flowers are sideways facing rather that upright, no presence. Inclined to spread too freely.

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Solfatare’ Forum comments: Rather weak growing. Not a pleasing flower-foliage combinations. Too short and lacks presence. Failed repeatedly, no vigor, not hardy enough. A weak plant.