Tritonia

Tritonia (Montbretia) - Graceful and showy plants from the Cape, better than most S. African plants in their hardiness and vitality, even in the poorest conditions of soil and exposure, growing, indeed, like weeds, and so close that I have used them between shrubs to keep the ground free from weeds; and well they do it, giving very graceful bloom in masses towards the summer and autumn. In rich light soils they give little trouble; in clay soils where the drainage is less under control they are apt to fail, but we have seen them thrive in poor clayey soil if not wet. In badly-drained soils it is best to grow them in raised beds of good soil. All danger can be avoided by lifting, though some hold that this is injurious. The success which attends the planting of dry bulbs during the early spring months—frequently as late as April—is the best proof that the harm from drying such things is of small moment. Where both systems can be pursued in one garden a long succession of bloom will be the result. The spring planted stock of this year may remain undisturbed through the coming winter, to yield early bloom next year, while the batch that remained in the ground the winter previous is the one to be lifted this coming autumn. In this way there is little loss in a single year by deterioration, and the corms, if harvested at the right time and well kept—i.e., cool and dry—will more than repay the labor and trouble involved. Even in those gardens where there is no real need to lift the roots the plan is of value for the longer time of blooming it ensures.

During recent years the Montbretia has been much improved, both as regards the size of the flowers and their color. Of more imposing stature than aforetime varieties, with freer branching habit, more erectly-held sprays, and widely expanded flowers that face the observer, they make for greater garden display; in fine, are immeasurably superior even when compared to those raised little more than a decade ago. Those named are among the best of this modern race. Comet, crimson stained, very large; King Edmund, 3 to 4 feet, rich yellow; Lord Nelson, deepest of all, orange-scarlet and crimson, 3 1/2 feet; Prometheus, one of the giants, orange and crimson flowers, 4 inches across; Star of the East, pure orange-yellow with lemon centre, probably the best yet raised; Westwick, orange and maroon; Queen Alexandra, apricot-yellow; Queen Mary, orange, dark purple stems; Nimbus, golden-yellow, very fine; Citronella, pale refined yellow, very beautiful; Queen Boadicea, 4 feet, orange and copper; His Majesty, yellow and brownish crimson; and Una, pale refined orange with crimson zone.

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