Chasmanthe aethiopica (L.) N.E.Br.

Horticultural & Botanical History

‘For the means of presenting this beautiful plant to the public, we are indebted to the Rev. Sackville Bale, who, aware of the rareness of its flowering, most kindly remitted it to us from his collection at Withyham, near Tunbridge, were it flowered by the help of the stove in February.  It flowered still earlier at Messrs. Russell and Wilmot’s Nursery, at Lewisham, who have had the goodness to send us the spike with ripe seeds, and is at this time coming into flower in the greenhouse of Edward Woodford, Esq. Vauxhall.  Had our drawing been fortunately taken before the upper flowers were expanded, the pyramidal form would have been an advantage to our figure.  Cultivated by Miller in 1759.  Flowers in May and June, according to Hort. Kw.  The trivial name (given it by Cornuti) of Aethiopian, is not a very eligible one for a plant peculiar to the Cape and adjacent country.’  [BM t.561/1802].  The flower figured in the Botanical Magazine gives an impression of being two-sided but is otherwise an accurate representation. 

Probably first cultivated in Britain at the Chelsea garden by Miller about 1759.  [ABR pl. 32/1798 as Antholyza ringens, ABR pl.210/1802].  BR f.1159/1828.  

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [B.42/1843].  Chasmanthe bicolor (Gasp.) N.E.Br., a very similar species but with flowers in a two-ranked raceme, is naturalised in the gardens at Camden Park.  It is possible that this plant, rather than Chasmanthe aethiopica, was introduced to the gardens before 1843 but it is probably a later introduction.

Notes