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A large flowered form collected by Jim Archibald in the eastern Cape, South Africa. I got it from Cotswold Garden Flowers and their label says: "Supposedly hardy to zone 7 (all of Britain). I do not believe it but ntrials will take place! Spikes of lovely orange flowers Jul-Sep, narrow foliage, 75cm." Jim and Jenny Archibald seed list for 2005 says: "Spikes of 30 or so, bright orange-red, long tubed flowers on n50-120cm stems in late summer. Original collection: South Africa, Eastern Cape. The only Watsonia generally cultivated in the UK and of proven reliability as a garden-plant. Essentially a summer-growing species, didtributed, usually in moist grassland, from the southern Cape through Natal into the Drakensberg, at low to middle elevations." In his January 1997 seed list, Jim Archibald provides the collection details: "JCA.3.953.600 Watsonia pillansii (W. beatricis, W.socium etc) KwaZulu Natal, N of Himeville to Mkhomazi. 1200m. Gravelly soil & crevices on rock outcrops. 22.3.96. (The growability & hardiness of this species in UK gardens gives us a criterion to judge the potential of others. The only summer-grower generally cultivated in the UK& also the only Watsonia of proven reliability in the UK, this is widely distributed through the E parts of S. Africa, usually in grassland, from the S Cape coastal area in a curve along the Natal coast into the drakensberg, at low to middle elevations. Whether or not we have material from the higher altitudes in cultivation is irrelevant, as almost all others listed here occur in colder areas than this. For a species with such a wide range, it varies little. Spikes of 30 or so, bright orange-red, long-tubed flowers on 50-120cm stems in late summer or autumn.)" |
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| 29th June 2006 | ||
