Crocosmia are corms of South African origin that produce arching branches of flowers and long sword like leaves. They thrive in well-drained soil in sun or dappled shade. Crocosmias require only the minimum of care with occasional thinning of plant clumps but in cold areas it’s worth covering plants with a mulch of well-rotted compost in winter. Leave the leaves on until the following spring, when dried they smell of saffron. Plant corms at least 4-6 inches deep. Old varieties of Montbretia can be quite invasive so select from the newer varieties now being developed.
National Collection of Crocosmia in Caister www.simplesite.com/crocosmia
Selection of varieties
- Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ AGM is currently a must have popular crocosmias because of its flame-red flowers contrasting well with the fresh green, sword-like foliage. It has great vigour and produces imposing clumps in the late summer border.
- Crocosmia masoniorum ‘Jupiter’ with long single sprays of bright orange flowers with a burgundy stripe down each petal,
- Crocosmia ‘Bicolor’ – An old variety which has small golden yellow and vermilion red flowers .
- Crocosmia masoniorum ‘ Firebird’ A floriferous variety with red flowers with and golden centre but a strong grower tending to take over.
- Crocosmia ‘Scarlatti’ – Tall spikes of star-shaped, pillar-box red flowers with conspicuous yellow stamens, 4ft tall
- Crocosmia ‘Burford Bronze’ – Many sprays of large flat golden yellow flowers over dark bronze foliage, provides a good foliage plant as well.
- Crocosmia Citronella Clear lemon yellow flowers and pale green leaves. Or for other yellows try Rowallane Yellow and Canary Bird.
- Crocosmia Zambezii A beautiful new variety producing large salmon-orange flowers with a deeper central mark.
- ‘Star of the East’ produces the largest flowers. Its star-shaped apricot blooms have six regularly spaced, broad petals. This is one of the latest to flower, and often blooms until October.
- Crocosmia ‘Vulcan’ a compact variety with deep red flowers on short stems.
- Crocosmia ‘Debutante’ – One of the shortest, with dainty salmon orange flowers fading to a cerise pink with age 1-2ft late flowering
- Crocosmia ‘Severn Sunrise’ has branched stems packed with salmon-orange flowers which fade to pink to give a stunning show!
Many of these varieties and others are available from Holden Clough
