Crinum of Downton Abbey
And a July 4th Conniseurs Crinum Sale & Videos at Bottom of Page
Victorian England was the epicenter of fashion, trends, politics, and horticulture. Natural history and plants were serious hobbies for the rich. One special crinum developed during that period held a secret until I did some digging a few years ago.
Sailors, explorers, and traders brought plants from all over the world to tempt rich collectors. An abundant supply of coal meant hot-houses and conservatories allowed for tropical plant gardening. Those collectors who could indulge in the lifestyle we see on Downton Abbey, needed a huge staff to keep it all going — inside, outside, and under glass.
The set of Downton Abbey is the real-life Highclere Castle (which is open for visitors) in a naturalistic garden setting. It’s sometimes tough to remember, that all those meadow and woods, the curving paths and roads are not natural but planned by the plantsman, the trendsetter, the oddly named man, Capability Brown. It took a crew of gardeners to plant, install and maintain it. For five generations one family was part of that crew — they had the lovely, appropriate last name of Digweed.
Remember the Downton Abbey flower show episode in which the valet, Mr. Mosely’s father grows better roses than Lady Grantham’s gardener? But who gets the prize for the best roses? Lady Grantham of course.
As a servant, his roses can’t win. He may have been a great gardener but our horticulture literature mostly preserves stories about the upper class. No one ever seems to have written about Mr. Digweed. But I did find one reference in an 1837 book, Amaryllidaceae, by William Herbert) that references Mr. Digweed raised, “in the stove (hothouse) at Highclere” a crinum which was, by 1837, named for him; Crinum x digweedii.
That crinum was a hybrid. The two parents came from different corners of the globe brought in by an explorer or a sailor. The first parent came from right here where I garden, a South Carolina native crinum. The other parent was from Africa. Mr. Digweed crossed those to create a new hybrid that later set seeds and spurred an entirely new class of crinum.
In cold climates, these plants were grown in pots, protected inside. But when they made their way back to America and for us in coastal South Carolina, Crinum x digweedii thrive in the ground. They are hardy into Zone 6.
Deep red stripes, open flowers and running, vigorous plants captured people’s attention. Today you’ll see ‘Stars and Stripes’, ‘Red Flare’, ‘Royal White’ and ‘Marisco’ among others offered for sale.
The digweedii flowers arrive with August heat. In our fields, six slightly different forms flower through August and September. (We are USDA Zone 8b.)
Honestly, in most landscapes, they all look the same. So I often interplant them and don’t worry about the names. Like all those pale, whiney Crowleys of Downton Abby, I get them mixed up; it best to just sit back and enjoy the rich colors and the drama.
These crinum need a lot of space to spread. They love a wet spot like a ditch, a leaking a/c, or even a marsh. Unlike some bulbs, they spread rapidly, making a great groundcover or erosion control. Mix them into a wet meadow with sweetgrass or the edge of a pond for erosion control. They’ll even grow in standing water and somewhat salty water, like their parent, Crinum americanum.
Mr. Digweed may not be in the history books or on Downton Abbey but his red striped runner has spread far and wide, taking his name with it. And when people comment on the flower in my garden, then I get to tell the story and honor Mr. Digweed.*
(*Note: Mr. Digweed’s grandson found this post! He wrote to me to say his brother is still a gardener in the same area of England!)
For July 4th, We have our Crinum conniseur’s sale including the new digweedii type Red Flare. Check out the sale here — it is for substack and email subscribers only!
And Here’s a How We divide video!
Great video with the crew.
Great article with lots of good info! You know I moved and I will need lots of crynums in all varieties. I will get back with you when I have the beds ready!