Norwich In Bloom - Floral Displays for the City of Norwich

Crocosmia Norwich "Local Roots" Heritage

As part of the 2008 Britain in Bloom "Local Roots" theme Norwich entered the Norwich and Norfolk Crocosmia Heritage Garden project, Terry Bane put together a special information display from information researched and provided by David and Colleen Fenwick and personal items on loan from Jack Fitt's family showing the history and people involved with the development of Norwich and Norfolk Crocosmia hybrids.

Crocosmia

The genus Crocosmia or as it is sometimes referred to Montbretia or Tritonia, is a small genus of mainly South African iridaceous plants containing eight species; although varieties of C. aurea and possible varieties of other species occur in the wild. The species include mathewsiana, pearsei, aurea, paniculata, pottsii, masonorum, fucata and the recently transferred C. ambongensis from the genus Geissorhiza.

1879 Victor Lemoine - Nancy France

In 1879 Lemoine crossed Crocosmia aurea (Tritonia aurea) with C. Pottsii (Montbretia pottsii) and produced the commonly known interspecific hybrid Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora (Montbretia crocosmiaeflora), the common Montbretia.

From 1879 - 1908 Lemoine produced 55 varieties

1885 George Davison - Westwick Hall

Norfolk Hybridisation began Davison called his first hybrid 'George Davison' RHS Award of Merit 1902 it was of Lemoine parentage but Davison was not happy with the Lemoine hybrids for breeding purposes as he wanted to produce hybrids that were more suitable for growing in British gardens and had the quality of hardiness.

Davison chose a newly imported Pfitzer hybrid from Germany called 'Germania' as the pollen donor; this was a hybrid of Leitchlin's Crocosmia aurea 'Imperialis' and Lemoine's 'Etoile de Feu'. The cross was probably the second most important cross regarding the development of the genus as a new strain of potentially polyploid forms was created, but these were hardier because of the 'George Davison' parentage.

Davison hybrids from 1895 - 1912

George Davison, Prometheus, St. Botolph, Anglia, Lady Hamilton, King Edmund, Lord Nelson, Ernest Davison, Norvic, Westwick, Pageant, Hereward, Star of the East.

1908 Sydney Morris - Wretham Hall

George Davison donated his stocks to Sydney Morris for further development. It was this donation that gave rise to the largest, brightest and most popular strain of Montbretias created

THE EARLHAM GIANT HYBRIDS

1909 George Henley - Wretham Hall

Head gardener George Henley continued development of the genus, the early breeding work was done in the grounds of Wretham Hall. The first hybrid was developed in 1909 and was named after its breeder 'George Henley' and was awarded a RHS Award of Merit.

Henley hybrids from 1909 - 1916

George Henley, Queen Adelaide, Queen Elizabeth, Queen of Spain, Halo, Tricolor, James Coey, Norwich Canary, Una, Marjorie, Aurora, Brilliant, Martagon, Norman.

1912 Jack Fitt - Earlham Hall

Sydney Morris moved to Earlham Hall, Wallace and Co. were commissioned to design and landscaped the grounds choosing Jack Fitt to supervise. Jack Fitt stayed on assisting retiring George Henley in 1916/17 to become head gardener at Earham Hall until Morris's death in 1924. Sydney Morris bequeathed to Jack Fitt all the Montbretia stock.

Earlham Hall was sold to Norwich City Council.

Fitt hybrids from 1916 - 1924

Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, Queen Boadicea, Citronella, Henry VIII, Nimbus, Comet, His Majesty, Achilles, Cyclops, Princess, The Prince, Princess Mary, Stella Mares, Tangerine, Primrose, Lemon Queen, Sunshine, Goldfinch, Pocahontas, Joan of Arc, Pamela, Mrs. H. J. Jones, Queen Charlotte, Cecile, Phyllis, Carmencita, Jessie, Red Indian, Peter, Rosemary, Elsie, Queen of Sheba, Macaw, Red Ensign, Admiral Jellicoe, Cleopatra.

1924 Jack Fitt - Breccles Hall

J. E. Fitt became the head gardener for the Honary Mrs. Edwin Montagu of Breccles Hall, near Attleborough. Beatrice Venetia Montagu and Jack Fitt carried on breeding and showing Montbretia All new hybrids were still called Earlham hybrids in memory of Sydney Morris.

Fitt hybrids from 1924 - 1939

Lady Churchill, A. E. Amos, The Honary Mrs. Edwin Montagu, Sir Mathew Wilson, Lady Wilson, Lord Lambourne, E. A. Bowles, R. C. Notcutt, Kathleen, Lady Diana, R. W. Wallace, John Alan Fitt, Brightest and Best, Orange Glow, Apricot Queen, Fiery Cross, Mephistopheles, Red Knight, Lena, Grenadier, Hades, Indian Chief, James Cross, Ruby King, Herbert Perry, D. H. Houghton, R. C. H. Jenkinson, Lady Oxford, H. Marshall, Judith Montagu, Gloria, Margaret Rose, Rose Queen, W. D. Cartwright, Albert Hill.

1966 Alan Bloom - Bressingham Hall

Alan Bloom bred one of the most popular and well known hybrids Lucifer in 1966

Bloom hybrids bred at Bressingham

Lucifer, Firebird, Jackanapes, Vulcan, Jenny Bloom, Bressingham Blaze, Bressingham Beacon, Spitfire, Emberglow

2002 The Assembly House - Norwich

David Fenwick, Terry Bane, Ian Dabson, George Ishmael, Bradley Simmonds, The Friends of Norwich in Bloom and The Assembly House developed a Norfolk Crocosmia Heritage Garden containing over 50 varieties and species that led to the breeding of the Earlham Giant Hybrids.

The Norwich and Norfolk Crocosmia Heritage Garden was formally opened on Saturday August 2nd 2003 by Jack Fitt’s oldest son Peter and his family we also held perhaps the first National Crocosmia Challenge Competition for the Best 6 stems of Crocosmia in a vase, a competition trophy named in honour of the Fitt family.

Brothers David and Peter Fitt present the Fitt Trophy to winner Britt Taylor in 2003

In 2008 project leaders Terry Bane and Ian Dabson decided to lift and split the hybrids as they had grown so well, the opportunity allowed the garden to be refurbished and incorporate exotic plants, ornamental grasses and spring flowering bulbs, surplus Crocosmia were given to Easton College to sustain and further promote our local heritage as well as provide a learning aid for horticultural students.