I'm sure I should know what this is

I was given this plant a couple of years ago. The donor couldn't remember what it's called; I'm sure I should know but I don't! Flowers, more pink than appears on the photo, are about an inch to an inch and a half across. Leaves like small gladiolus leaves. Good spreader! Most flowers seem to come in late spring. Any answers would be much appreciated. :cnfs:

 

I think this was up recently for identification .... it appears to be Crocosmia, common name Montbretia.

 

I don't think it's Crocosmia. I've never seen them pink hued and they tend to be late summer flowering.
It could be some kind of Haemorocalis.

 

You may be right there, Alice. The Crocosmia bloom here in the Spring so I may have got thrown off.

 

If that is crocosmia or otherwise known as montbretia it is one I have never seen before.

They would be in flower around now, but they don't look like that.


I would say a lily of some kind.

 

Looks like Schizostylis coccinea. Common name Kaffir lily.
It also comes in pink and white.

http://www.wildchicken.com/nature/garden/nature_200_091.htm

http://www.lazyssfarm.com/Plants/Perennials/S_files/S_Images/schizostylis_coccinea_red.htm

http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=schizostylis%20coccinea&rls=p,com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7SUNA_en-GB&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1239&bih=528

 

Definitely Kaffir Lily, well spotted Silver Surfer.:gnthb:

 

I thought Kaffir Lilies...but aren't they supposed to bloom in late autumn, one of the last perennials to flower before winter. The clump I have is more or less non existent until mid summer, then the leaves get thicker. Even now there is still no sign of a flower.

http://www.rhsplants.co.uk/plants/_...-coccinea-fenland-daybreak/itemno.RH30000336/

But Hemerocallis seems to fit the bill more, at least from the time of year it flowers.

 

Hi Lolli .. it's one of these 'odd' ones I think ...

Here are some net photos of Crocosmia ...









Having posted the above I am certain that Silver surfer is correct as I had Schizostylis coccinea many, many years ago so they do look so familiar ... well done again on an ID. :ntwrth:

 

Thanks Victoria,

Never ceases to amaze me how many plants I don't know lol.

 

It rather depends where in Britain the pics were taken. In Cornwall for example everything is so much further ahead of the rest of Britain.
Think of daffodils there in the spring , they are several weeks ahead of here in South Wales and even further ahead compared to the North of Scotland.

Lorna. It might help future answers if you put an approx area where you live.

 

Thank you, Silver Surfer. Schizostylis coccinea it is. I did keep thinking it was something that began with Sch.. but the only thing I could think of was Schizanthus and it obviously wasn't that. I knew it wasn't crocosmia - got quite a lot of that (two varieties) in the garden and it also grows wild (well, garden escapees) in a few places round here (very rural north Cumbria, by the way, 700 feet up and windy). The internet photos of crocosmia show it in a way you would never normally see it, by looking straight into the mouth of the flower, whereas the big picture is arching stems with flowers and buds hanging from them.
Thank you to all who took the trouble to reply. What a great forum this is!

 

:thumb:yep - I would say it is a variety of crocosmia too - there are some lovely colours around and here in Cornwall they seem to flower from early August right through till October. I have a similar pinkish one in my garden.

 

I started my post by saying 6 weeks, then amended it as I wasn't sure of the accurate time it look from spring in Cornwall to North of Scotland. Thanks Harry that is a very interesting fact..... 8 weeks.

I haven't had the chance to go and look at our Schizostylis coccinea to see if they are in flower.


I am particularly fond of Schizostylis coccinea Jennifer. A beautiful pink.
Given the award of Garden merit... AGM by RHS.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/images/large_db_pics/large/schizostylis_coccinea_jennifer.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/plants/plant_finder/plant_pages/10605.shtml&usg=__8uZDHU9e_HlIcriNh0HpsQ7LI8I=&h=210&w=210&sz=8&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=LaH0xlCt4ilq4M:&tbnh=123&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3DSchizostylis%2Bcoccinea%2Bjennifer%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26rls%3Dp,com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-ContextMenu%26rlz%3D1I7SUNA_en-GB%26biw%3D1239%26bih%3D528%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=139&vpy=83&dur=1468&hovh=168&hovw=168&tx=85&ty=107&ei=tnyDTJvVA8mDswb23_zlCA&oei=tnyDTJvVA8mDswb23_zlCA&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=23&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0


http://www.cottage-gardens.net/showdetails.asp?id=264