New garden - identifying existing plants 1

[Darryl]

Hi guys,
As I mentioned in the intro forum, I've recently bought a new house with an existing garden and am hoping to identify some of the plants.
This will allow me to research them further, see what they like and don't like, how to prune them if applicable, and even how to take cuttings.
I'm in Australia, however I don't think any of these plants are native, so hopefully someone can identify them.
Anyway, here's the first one. I've got about 12 all up to id.

 

[Darryl]

Should also add, apologies in advance if I don't reply to questions quickly. I'll probably be asleep when most people see this!

 

[NigelJ]

That one is a Crocosmia, possibly "Lucifer"

 

[Darryl]

Thanks Nigel. That's one down

 

[mr bartley green]

yes its Crocosmia iv got lots of lucifer...if flovvers are a bright deep red yes its lucifer..and luciifer grovv to about 4 ft tall .You can get yellovv ones emily mackenzie is one yellovv one, They grovv much slovver an d only half as tall..iv got emily mackenzie too

 

[Tetters]

It looks like Crocosmia, but in Australia it may be Anigozanthus aka Kangaroo Paw. I'll find a picture......

this next one is ''Lucifer''

Watsonia

 

[Darryl]

Not Kangaroo Paw. I'm a novice gardener but an experienced Aussie and know Kangaroo Paw when I see it

Have a look at Watsonia and see if it might be that. I've been doing some research and came across that.

Some of the local birds have been eating the pollen from deep inside the flower.

 

[Tetters]

I've added Watsonia above - good thinking on your part. I understand that birds do use this plant for nectar. I don't think Crocosmia is attractive to birds though - not sure.

The flowers on Watsonia are equally on both sides of the stem too.

I used to grow the green hardier version of Kangaroo paw here as well as Sturt's desert pea among others (about 200 years ago)

 

[Darryl]

Here's a pic from today. The flowers are on both sides of the stem so I'm going to go with Watsonia I reckon.

 

[Marck]

Hi Darryl:

Your plant is Chasmanthe floribunda, yet another South African bulb in the Iris family (Iridaceae).
Chasmanthe are late winter & early spring bloomers, which times right with July & August in the Southern Hemisphere.

 

[Darryl]

Excellent, thanks Marck. I'll do some research.

 

[Tetters]

You'll be right now then @Darryl - I'll go back to my knitting

 

[Darryl]

LOL no worries Tetters. I appreciate the help. There's so many plants that it looks like from a photo!!!!