What Is a Crocosmia?

The Crocosmia is a majestic species of plant with extraordinary colourful flowers. Most species of Crocosmia originate from South Africa but can also be found in Mozambique, Madagascar, Malawi and Zimbabwe. The name derives from the Greek words krokos for saffron and osme for smell, because its leaves smell of saffron when they’re dried and rubbed.

The Ambongensis Crocosmia

• The Ambongensis Crocosmia is named after a region in Madagascar where the species was first found. This is the only species of Crocosmia which naturally occurs outside of Africa. There are only two known populations on Madagascar, and both occur in areas of limestone substrate in the west of the island. It was first collected by Henri Perrier de la Bathie in 1903.

The Aurea Crocosmia

• This flower’s name derives from the Latin Aureus, meaning golden, which alludes to the golden yellow color. This Crocosmia is usually found on the forest floor. It only naturally occurs in Africa, where it is found in the Eastern Cape province, South Africa, Uganda and the Central African Republic. The flowers of the Aurea Crocosmia are adapted for pollination by Swallowtail Butterflies which feed on the nectar in the perianth tubes. The plant collector Johann Franz Drefge first documented the plants in Eastern South Africa in 1832.

The Fucata Crocosmia

• Fucata Crocosmia gets its name from the Latin Facatus, meaning painted or stained. The flowers are red with yellow throats, with darker red, sometimes green markings, on the lower parts. The species is only found in two small areas of South Africa. The plant was first recorded in 1838 in Sydenham Edward’s Botanical Register although it was first collected in the wild by the German plant explore Carl Ludwig-Zeyher in 1829.

The Masoniorum Crocosmia

• Marianne and Edward Mason, who made an early collection of this species, now have their name attached it. This plant is exceedingly rare and is found in only a handful of places in the mountains north of South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. The plants grow on cliffs or on stream banks.

The Mathewsiana Crocosmia

• The Mathewsiana Crocosmia is named after Joseph William Mathews who worked with the botanist H, M, L Bolus to help grow and study the plant. The Mathewsiana grows only in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa where it is common along the edges of Elfin forest. They grow in well drained sandy ground among rocks. The Mathewsiana Crocosmia are pollinated by large bees.