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Chasmanthe floribunda Duckittii - African Flag

Chasmanthe floribunda Duckittii
African flag, Cobra lily

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They had beautiful leaves and then we had a -3 and nothing left! I hope this time will be the right one because the foliage was more than promising for beautiful plants.

Maryline , 12/02/2024

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

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Value-for-money
This cormous plant, similar to crocosmias, forms a clump of sword-shaped leaves in autumn and winter. In spring, floral stems emerge from the clump, adorned with long pendulous tubular flowers in a vibrant yellow colour, arranged in two rows. It is ideal for Mediterranean-type climates, and it appreciates mild and humid winters. It blooms for several weeks in late winter or early spring. It goes dormant in summer, preferably in dry soil. It is not very hardy, so is most often grown in a pot for overwintering, or as a gladiolus.
Flower size
8 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
40 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -6°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time April, October
Recommended planting time April to May, September to October
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Flowering time March to April
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Description

Chasmanthe floribunda 'Duckittii' is a beautiful plant with yellow flowers. This South African plant is related to crocosmias. Like the latter, it develops from a corm into a beautiful dense and upright clump from which robust floral stems emerge. Its flowers are finer and appear early in spring. Much better adapted to Mediterranean-type climates than crocosmias, Chasmanthe floribunda is easily cultivated in the ground on the Mediterranean coast and in beds with other plants with staggered flowering. Elsewhere, it can be used to create beautiful pots that can be protected from frost in winter. Alternatively, the corms can be planted in spring and dug up before the first frosts. The plant will then flower in summer.

 

Chasmanthe floribunda, sometimes called African Flag, belongs to the Iridaceae family. This botanical species is native to the Cape region in South Africa. 'Duckittii' is a rare form found only in a small area near the town of Darling in the Western Cape. It is an herbaceous perennial plant with an underground storage organ called a corm. This corm dies below -5°C (23°F) and the foliage is destroyed as soon as it freezes. In nature, its vegetation emerges from the ground in autumn with the return of rain, in the form of a clump of stiff and upright linear leaves that are light green in colour. Flowering takes place in March-April for 3 to 4 weeks, then the foliage dries up at the end of spring or early summer. The plant then enters a period of dormancy to escape the heat and drought in dry soil. It reaches about 1m (3ft) in height and 40cm (16in) in width. Its leaves measure 30 to 45cm (12 to 18in) in length. The yellow-green flattened flower stalks bear many finely tubular flowers, 8cm (3in) long. These pure yellow blooms are arranged in zigzags in two rows. On each flower, the very long upper petal releases long stamens with golden anthers. After pollination by insects, capsules containing seeds are formed which can spontaneously reseed under favourable conditions.

 

These plants will easily replace crocosmias in frost-free mild gardens where they will require little maintenance. Elsewhere, they can be used to create beautiful flowering pots from spring. These vigorous but hungry plants are easy to grow in containers. They can be planted in semi-shade or full sun. Plant them in groups of 10 corms, in light, fertile soil that remains moist throughout their growth period. Their warm-toned blooms form beautiful combinations with annuals (love-in-a-mist and poppies) and blend well in exotic settings, with agapanthus taking over in summer. They always look wonderful with garden irises, grasses, and plants with grey foliage.

 

Chasmanthe floribunda Duckittii - African Flag in pictures

Chasmanthe floribunda Duckittii - African Flag (Flowering) Flowering

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 40 cm
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour yellow
Flowering time March to April
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 8 cm

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green
Foliage description Deciduous in summer, reappearing in autumn.

Botanical data

Genus

Chasmanthe

Species

floribunda

Cultivar

Duckittii

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

African flag, Cobra lily

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference155431

Planting and care

Chasmanthe floribunda can be grown in open ground in warm regions spared from heavy frosts, mainly on the coast. In this situation, plant it in early autumn. The corm is destroyed at -5°C (23°F) and the foliage, which develops in autumn and winter, will be destroyed as soon as it freezes. Elsewhere, it should be planted in spring in a large pot, which allows it to be protected from frost in winter. Alternatively, it can be grown like a gladiolus planted after the last frost and the corms dug up in autumn, to be stored in a dry and cool place. It will then bloom in summer.

Plant the corms at a depth of 8 to 9cm (3 to 4in). The growing medium should be light, well-drained and rich, and remain slightly moist throughout the growth and flowering period (from November-December until the end of May, when the foliage starts to turn yellow). On the other hand, the plant should be kept dry after flowering, which corresponds to its dormant period. Opt for good quality potting soil mixed with a little sand. Overwinter your potted plant in a bright, cool, but frost-free place.

 

Planting period

Best planting time April, October
Recommended planting time April to May, September to October
Planting depth 9 cm

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Woodland edge
Type of use Border, Container, Greenhouse, Conservatory
Hardiness Hardy down to -6°C (USDA zone 9a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Neutral, Any
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, Well-draining, light, rich.

Care

Pruning instructions Remove the faded flower stalks.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time May
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Needs to be stored
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