Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Diademe': Formerly it was referred to wrongly as 'Rheingold'. It's correct identification was apparent a couple years ago when I decided to paint Lemoine's hybrids from their descriptions in his catalogues. Post painting I thought, 'this looks similar'; and I have found I'd painted the flower exactly.

It is a small to medium flowered Crocosmia, reaching just 2 feet in height (60cm); flowers are around 4.5cm. It is a charming plant and one of my favorites but it looses its charm if planted in the garden amongst other things. It is one that's ideal for pot culture, especially if the pot or pots can be placed where one can look into the open flower and see its delightful markings. Non-invasive and only produces two or at most three corms per annum.

Bred by Victor Lemoine of Nancy, France in 1898, some 20 years after the common Montbretia, it was only listed in his catalogue for 11 years and hence it was very lucky to survive both world wars.

Dave Fenwick (Aug 4, 2000)
Plymouth, UK