Watsonia marlothii

Proven tough and hardy even in the N of England, this rarity derives from a collection made by James Hitchmough at altitude east of the Swartberg Pass in South Africa. Sword-shaped grey-green foliage and 1.5m high elongated spikes of vivid glowing vermillion to lighter orange-red flowers with violet anthers in June/July. Best in well drained soil in sun. In my frigid frost pocket in rural Glos' this was upset by the very early and exceptionally damaging cold of Dec '22, but bounced back..