Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => General Gardening => Topic started by: fatbelly on October 13, 2010, 09:34

Title: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: fatbelly on October 13, 2010, 09:34
Hi a few years ago my wife bought a plant which is now in our garden.
We really like it and would like to get a few more for the Lottie.
It flowers in the autumn and last year stayed in flower until late November. It doesn't do very much it the spring or summer and only comes to life properly in July /August.
Do you know what it is and can we split the roots to get more plants?
Anything you can tell us about the plant and its propagation will be of great help.

Thanks FB

(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab236/fatbelly333/ken1.jpg)

(http://i867.photobucket.com/albums/ab236/fatbelly333/ken.jpg)



Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: tosca100 on October 13, 2010, 09:49
That's interesting. It looks rather like the wild Gladioli I've seen in greece, only pink instead of red. Someone will know. :)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: fatbelly on October 13, 2010, 09:52
The flowers are gorgeous just when everything else is coming to an end.
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: arugula on October 13, 2010, 10:02
Looks rather like a Crocosmia to me, but in pink I'm not sure as I'm used to seeing those in vibrant orange.

:)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: Debz on October 13, 2010, 10:05
I think it is a Gladiolus.  It comes in a variety of reds and pinks and will grow just about anywhere.  A friend gave me a piece because it spreads like wild in her garden and she was glad to get rid of a bit.  I understand she just puts the spade through it to get pieces for other people.
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: mumofstig on October 13, 2010, 10:11
If it is flowering now, I would think it a bit late for Gladioli  :unsure:
The greek glads I've got (the red ones) finished flowering months ago....but if it is one of those then it's bullbs underneath..so not a good idea just to chop through.

The best idea may be to gently dig around and have a look to see if it has got bulbs/corms or roots.......that way you can tell how to split it  ;)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: dexyblue on October 13, 2010, 10:16
I agree looks like croccosmia
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: Debz on October 13, 2010, 14:15
no Mum of Stig not Gladiolis (sp?) like Dame Edna Everage carried about.

Herbaceous Perennials 
 Description  The gladioli are all reasonably hardy; there is no need to lift the corms in the winter provided they are planted below the frost level. (Not to be confused with the big and blousy 'Florist Gladioli'). They grow and flower best in well-drained soil and sun. They are good for cutting. The species and cultivars listed below flower during the late spring and summer months and will gently form clumps.
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: mumofstig on October 13, 2010, 14:33
no Mum of Stig not Gladiolis (sp?) like Dame Edna Everage carried about.

Herbaceous Perennials 
 Description  The gladioli are all reasonably hardy; there is no need to lift the corms in the winter provided they are planted below the frost level. (Not to be confused with the big and blousy 'Florist Gladioli'). They grow and flower best in well-drained soil and sun. They are good for cutting. The species and cultivars listed below flower during the late spring and summer months and will gently form clumps.

They are all in the gladiloli family  :) mine are gladiolus byzantinus, so not Dame Edna either ;)

But, as your quote says they have corms...just as I suggested.
(please advise where your quote comes from, or add a link to avoid copyright problems in future, thanks)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: fatbelly on October 13, 2010, 14:37
To muddy the water further, a friend from the Lottie has suggested it is a 'Kaffir Lily' called Schizostylis coccinea 'Mrs Hegarty'


Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: mumofstig on October 13, 2010, 14:42
That looks a better fit, and that is propagated by division cos it is a rhizome root  :)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: fatbelly on October 13, 2010, 14:44
Quote from: mumofstig link=topic=66596.msg 760877#msg 760877 date=1286977367
That looks a better fit, and that is propagated by division cos it is a rhizome root  :)

So MoS, what do I need to do to get more plants from it and when.
Thanks

PS You are talking swahili to me when you say rhizome root  :)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: mumofstig on October 13, 2010, 15:42
Quote
Gardeners world:Lift and divide schizostylis rhizomes from mid- to late-spring every two to three years. Each clump should have about six leaf shoots and should be replanted about 20-30cm apart and 5cm deep in well-prepared soil

Rhizomes are just fat roots rather than lots of skinny ones :D
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: cob nut on October 13, 2010, 19:59
It looks like a Kaffir lily to me  :)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: Goldfinger on October 13, 2010, 20:45

OH and me think they be Gladioli  ???   :blink:

We've got the same, if not similar in our garden but in purple and orange though.

If it wasn't dark, would go out and take a photo.....  ::)
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: sion01 on October 13, 2010, 21:45
kaffir lily end of
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: penninehillbilly on October 14, 2010, 01:03
Don't know but it looks very nice - when it's decided let us know - I must try and find one
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: fatbelly on October 19, 2010, 20:40
Quote from: pennine hillbilly link=topic=66596.msg 761247#msg 761247 date=1287014593
Don't know but it looks very nice - when it's decided let us know - I must try and find one

Kaffir lily, without a doubt. This one is called Mrs Hegarty.

Its still well in flower now and looks great.
Title: Re: Plant ID, can you help
Post by: penninehillbilly on October 20, 2010, 01:20
Thanks, I'll have a word with a knowledgable friend and see if she can find me one, I think she know all the garden centres in the area!