A purported G. papilio hybrid, our mama plant when in bloom with its 5 foot stems of red-mauve flowers sporting dark eye patches, frequently caused plant geeks to start speaking in tongues and offer creative enticements in exchange for a wee bit.  We have had to say "No." until now.

Little bulby plant from the Drakensberg Mts in South Africa.  This is a good rock garden subject in that it likes good drainage in the winter.  When growing, keep it watered reasonably and it will bloom its tail off with loads of small reddish flowers.  Mulch if bitter cold in winter.

Big cheerful yellow flowers which open widely on stems to nearly 30" tall are the reason for growing this selection.  This can help make some of the late season fiery colors seem even more intense by comparison or if asked to carry the floral load on its own, it is more than up to the task,.

A seedling selection named and introduced by us in recognition of the large flowers which when compared to other clones in terms of size, is not only beyond the pale ones but all others as well. Flowers of the palest pink as if infused by the cold sun hanging low in the Icelandic sky.  These will be ecstatic in rich, moist soil in a sunny position.  Used to be Schizostylis.

This is a lovely thing we received from Ellen Hornig at the late Seneca Hills Nursery in New York where she was able to grow this thanks to deep lake-effect snow cover.  Looking perfectly intermediate between Dierama and Crocosmia, this is the perfect choice if you are wanting a soft pink Crocosmia but can't find one.

This exceptionally large flowered selection is going to be a star in any sunny garden where it's unrivaled flower size leaves most other Crocosmias wishing they hadn't been mired in ethical dilemmas and just gone ahead and done the testosterone injections.

Small but rapidly clumping bulb from South Africa with dense grassy leaves and small white flowers produced with some say reckless abandon during summer.  Named for Ruth McConnell who was one of the main growers and hybridizers of the genus in the UK.  This has been easy in the garden here.

We got tired of folks asking for Jenny after seeing her in our border so being saavy entrepeneurs we potted some up.  This is a dandy Crocosmia of smaller habit with tasty flowers of butterscotch infused yellow.  Not a piercing yellow but of a gentle hue.  Jenny has class after all.

A very fine cultivar with large flowers held appealingly over an especially long period. The wide open mid-orange flowers have a darker orange central stripe running down each petal which tends to grab the eye and hold it.  It is always fun to watch folks cruise the Crocosmia at a steady pace only to be brought up short by Zambesi.

This is one coming out of the garden of Matt Mattus and has garnered the name 'Matt's White'.  This may be a name functioning more as a placeholder for origin than a proper clonal name.  It is a good doer and basically obscures the foliage when in flower so be forewarned if you like leaves with your flowers.

Big pink flowers of substance on this densely clumping South African bulb.  Hardy outside here given good drainage in winter (and mulch if a bad winter) and a choice candidate for the rock garden provided it gets ample water when in growth.  Easy to grow in pots and overwinter in the garage.

Grassy little clumping rhizomatous bulb from South Africa which is easily grown here provided it has good drainage and moisture while in growth and a bit of mulch in winter. Dawn is a broad-petaled fairly large flowered selection in which the white flowers are just touched with pink.

This is an awesome plant with very large flowers of excellent substance clustered in dense heads which compounds the visual impact. Tall stems to 40" just to make sure you won't miss seeing this in bloom. A good even rich yellow that is not brightly strident but very capable of mingling with other colors or carrying the display load on its own.

A great rock garden plant for our area where it thrives on the sun and good drainage and rewards the neglectful gardener with unearned but copious amounts of showy white flowers.  If we get bitter cold in the winter, this South African wouldn't mind a wee blanky of mulch.

Near red selection of this cheerful little plant.  Rhodohypoxis fill a pot with flowers like few other plants their size and 'Albrighton' is no exception.  Ideally suited for container culture, these are easily overwintered in a cool frost-free spot indoors when they are dormant.  If growing outside, give them good drainage as prolonged winter wet can be a terminal annoyance.  Fortunately in our Port Townsend rain shadow, not a big consideration.

A refined selection with rich bright red flowers and named in 1993 by Cornwall gardener John Hogan for Lana de Savary.  We can't fault the name as a cursory google search reveals that the socialite Lana de Savary is not only red-haired but apparently both bright and ungodly rich.  We have more cool plants than her though.

Everything good about this yellow hybrid from David Tristan in the UK.  Densely clumping and quite respectful of it's space without the imperialistic proclivities of some it's Borg-like relatives.  Flowers a rich clear yellow with a good open flared aspect and rounded petals of distinct substance.

One of the better of the clear yellow hybrids with nicely presented flowers that while of good size are not so overly large that they bow down the stems.  We've come to like the clean yellows as they bring something refreshingly uncomplicated to the garden bed and the fewer issues in bed, the better.

Riveting species from mountainous regions in South Africa where it grows on moist cliffs and near waterfalls.  Vivid cardinal-red flowers on slender stems with white blazes on the lower 3 petals makes this nearly imperative to own.  This is hardy in the PNW thankfully especially if mulched in the event of severe winter cold.

This is a compact Angel's Fishing Rod but it is a lunker in flower power.  This makes a dense evergreen grassy clump which has lots of flower stems bearing pendulous fared pink bells in mid summer.  We have this out in our sunny border and it has been great.  Deer resistant.

Fantastic little plant from South Africa which used to be Aster natalensis but is now in the genus Felicia.  We got this from a Scottish alpine nursery in Scotland and know of a rock gardener in northern Norway who raves about it.  Tight clumps with blue flowers with a yellow button in June-July.  Very hardy.  First introduction to the US.

This is an Alan Bloom selection from Bressingham Gardens which he introduced in 1970.  'Spitfire' is a feisty little plant making a dense clump of thin leaves with flared open fiery red-orange flowers held closely together in which the many presents as one to great effect.  A smaller mounding plant than some of its kin.

Possible hybrid between Rhodohypoxis and Hypoxis collected on at Hebron Farm in South Africa although some feel this is simply a form of Rhodohypoxis parvula var. albiflora. We're going with the hybrid until someone tells us otherwise mainly because Rhodohypoxis have loose morals with no desire to practice social distancing. Small cream flowers with red centers.

One of our favorites - and we know you have seen this on other Crocosmia descriptions here - but it is even more true with this one!  Not to say the others are less favored, mind you.  Large, wide open orange-yellow flowers with a vivid dark orange ring in the center surrounding a slightly paler throat.  Well-displayed to nearly 3' tall.

A super hybrid out of the UK from crossing the two related genera, Hypoxis and Rhodohypoxis.  These genera occur in South Africa and are small bulbous members of the Iris family.  While just a few inches tall, these are showy beyond the implied limits of their size and can cover themselves for weeks in large red flowers.  Easy to grow and a fast increaser, this will become a favorite.  Cold climates can be overwintered inside where cool.

This rugged South African is sun, wind and drought tolerant and absolutely hardy in the PNW.  One of the most admired plants in our border for its profuse display of large yellow to orange daisies on low stems.  Good drainage.

The oldest cultivated species (I think) dating back to the mid-1800's and due to it's very wide distribution as a woodland plant throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa such as the Congo and on down to South Africa.  Crocosmia as woodland shade plants muddles my preconceptions but expands my planting areas.  Nice pendant yellow-orange flowers.

This is not commonly grown and only a handful of nurseries in the UK offer this 1918 George Henley introduction and you would be hard-pressed to find anyone in the US. Small flowers touched red on the outside of the tepals and fusing into yellow on the inside presenting a very pleasing two-toned effect.

This UK selection has good ripe tomato red flowers arrayed nicely on the stem and held out horizonatally to optimize viewing. Very accommodating those Brits. The flowers are nicely ranked with some overlap which creates a showy floral synergistic effect. This is a compact grower to just a couple feet tall.

From the breeding work of Bob Brown comes this crazy good plant. On very stout stems, the big flowers with broad rounded tepals are bunched together in nice fat heads and the flowers are a melange of peachy apricoty pink hues. One of the very best of the recent introductions.