Perennial
Crocosmia
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowers | Flowers in July | Flowers in August | Flowers in September | |||||||||
| Plant | Plant in March | Plant in April | Plant in May | |||||||||
| Prune | Prune in February | Prune in March | ||||||||||
| Looks good | Looks good in July | Looks good in August | Looks good in September | Looks good in October |
Overview
Arching sprays of funnel-shaped flowers open in sequence along zigzag stems from July, followed by attractive bead-like seed heads. The old orange montbretia spreads vigorously and has naturalised along hedgebanks in the west of Britain and Ireland, so choose clump-forming cultivars instead. 'Lucifer' is the tall, flame-red classic; 'Emily McKenzie' has big orange flowers with a mahogany eye; 'George Davison' is soft yellow and shorter.
Where to grow crocosmia
Sun gives the most flowers, though light shade is fine in the south. Soil should hold some moisture in summer but not be sodden in winter. The upright leaves contrast nicely with rounded plants such as hardy geraniums and grasses.
Planting
Plant corms 8–10 cm deep and 10–15 cm apart in spring, in groups of a dozen or more. Pot-grown plants can go in any time from spring to early summer.
Care through the year
Spring
Clear away old foliage before new spears appear; a light feed helps flowering.
Summer
Stake 'Lucifer' in windy gardens and water during long dry spells.
Autumn
Leave seed heads for winter structure.
Winter
In cold inland gardens, mulch young clumps with leaf mould or bark.
Pruning
Cut the dead leaves and stems to the ground in late winter or early spring. Snap off faded flower spikes in summer if you prefer a neat look.
Propagation
Congested clumps flower less. Lift them in spring every three to four years, separate the chains of corms and replant the plumpest ones from the top of each chain.
Common problems
Red spider mite can mottle leaves in hot, dry weather; regular watering discourages it. Overcrowding is the usual cause of poor flowering. Dispose of unwanted montbretia corms in your green waste bin, not in the countryside.
Something else wrong? Diagnose it by symptom.
Month-by-month reminders
Jobs for this plant come round in February, March, April and May. Each month page lists everything else worth doing in the garden at the same time.
Related plants
Sources
Botanical names follow Kew's Plants of the World Online; growing attributes were checked against the references below. Text is our own. See our editorial policy.