Crocosmia 'David Fitt'

A new Crocosmia, Crocosmia 'David Fitt' has been bred by us here. Here are the details, and the pic.

Bred July 1999

Parentage Seed parent Crocosmia 'Zeal Giant' bred by Terry Jones of Zeal Monachorum Devon, England. Pollen donor Crocosmia 'Lucifer' bred by Alan Bloom, Blooms of Bressingham, Diss, Norfolk, England, in 1966.

It must be noted that both parents have provenance, and both were obtained from the breeders. Crocosmia 'Lucifer' originating from stock held since its 1966 breeding.

Height 130cm, but could attain more under better conditions. Actual height could be between 150 and 180cm.

Habit A tall, erect, sturdy Crocosmia of original C. paniculata and C. masoniorum parentage, ie. a 'maspan' hybrid. Habit similar to C. 'Lucifer', but with slightly broader foliage.

Leaves Pleated, mid-green, similar to 'Lucifer' but slightly wider.

Flowers Zygomorphic. 50mm (2 inches), top to bottom. 40mm wide. Length 55mm. Orange / Orange-red on three higher segments, three lower segment red-orange. Deep red throat markings similar to 'Zeal Giant', these markings diffuse through the full length of the lower segments. Yellow throat. Carmine blush. Reverse, orange suffused orange-red, yellow tail. Buds, dark red, green-yellow at base.

Upper Segment - 28mm x 16mm
Upper Pair - 21mm x 9mm
Lower Pair - 24mm x 12mm
Lower Segment - 19mm x 7.5mm

Length of Infloresense (First to last flower)
190 - 230mm

Flowering Time Mid - Late July - (Early August)

Scapes Very strong and thick, of a deep red-purple colour, divided, with two sub-branches. One of the most unusual and attractive features of the plant. Farinose. Branching angle, 30 degrees.

Other Comments Drought resistant and frost hardy. Could be a good seed donor for other crosses of the type due to the deepness of colour of the scape. Crosses with yellow C. masoniorum hybrids such as Walberton Yellow, Rowallane, or Jenny Bloom could produce plants of some merit.

Named after David Fitt by David and Colleen Fenwick on meeting with the Fitt Family at The Norwich in Bloom, Crocosmia Identification Day, held at The Assembly Rooms, Norwich, Norfolk, 20th July 2002.

David is the son of Jack Fitt, Head Garden of Earlham Hall 1916 - 1926 and Breccles Hall 1926-, and breeder with Sydney Morris and George Henley, of The Earlham Giant Montbretia.

Of three sons, Peter, John Alan and David, David is the only son not to have a Crocosmia or Montbretia named after him. Indeed, both brothers have Earlham Giants named after them.

Best Wishes,
Dave (Plymouth)