Chasmanthe floribunda Saturnus

Chasmanthe floribunda 'Saturnus' is an unusual South African corm plant with autumnal and winter growth, featuring early spring flowering in fiery tones of red and orange. It is sensitive to frost. Resembling crocosmias in its overall appearance, this plant forms a beautiful dense and upright clump. In early spring, purple floral stems emerge from the foliage. They are adorned with long flamboyant tubular flowers, blending orange and bright red, resembling small flags. Well adapted to Mediterranean-type climates, it can be grown outdoors in very mild climates. Elsewhere, it can be used to create beautiful potted displays that are protected from frost in winter. Alternatively, corms can be planted in spring and dug up before the first frost. The plant will then bloom in summer.

Chasmanthe floribunda, also known as African Flag, belongs to the Iridaceae family. This botanical species is native to the Cape region in South Africa. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with an underground storage organ called a corm. This corm perishes below -5°C (23°F) and the foliage is destroyed as soon as it freezes. In nature, its growth emerges in late autumn, taking the form of a clump of stiff, upright, linear leaves in a vibrant light green. The 'Saturnus' cultivar features bicolour orange and red flowers and plicate leaves. Flowering occurs in March-April for 3 to 4 weeks, then the foliage dries up in late spring or early summer. The plant then enters dormancy in dry soil to escape the heat and summer drought. Flowering can reach about 1m (3ft) in height and 40cm (16in) in width, with leaves measuring 30 to 45cm (12 to 18in) long. The flattened, purplish flower spikes bear numerous finely tubular flowers, 8cm (3in) long, in a vibrant orange tinged with red, arranged in zigzags along two ranks. Each flower has a long upper petal that releases long purple stamens. After pollination by insects, capsules containing seeds are formed, which can spontaneously self-seed under favourable conditions.

Chasmanthes make a great substitution for crocosmias in frost-free warm gardens where they require little maintenance. Elsewhere, they can be used to create beautiful potted displays from spring onwards. Easy to grow in containers, vigorous but demanding, they can be planted in semi-shade or full sun, in groups of 10 corms, in light, fertile soil that remains moist throughout their growth period. Their warm-toned flowers create splendid combinations with annuals (love-in-a-mist and poppies) and fit well in exotic settings, with agapanthus taking over in summer. They always make successful combinations with garden irises, grasses, and grey foliage.