Last updated on June 8th, 2022
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Crocosmias are a great way to add bright flowers to your border gardens, full of citrus coloured shades. There are literally hundreds of varieties to choose from, for example, the popular Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ with bright red flowers (as shown in the main picture) or the Crocosmia ‘Spitfire’ that produces fiery orange flowers, this is also a dwarf variety. So, you should be able to find a Crocosmia that is perfect for you and your garden, no matter the size, shape, and style of your garden.
Some varieties have upright growing habits, with bright green leaves while others produce sprays of flowers you will no doubt want to display on your tables. They also make excellent cut flowers, plus they flower prolifically and can be divided every 3 years to provide you with bigger and better displays.
Where to grow Crocosmia plants
If you want to plant Crocosmias in your garden you will need fertile, well-draining but moist soil. They aren’t fussy about soil type but they seem to do better in slightly acidic soil.
They also prefer full sun but if you only have an area with light shading and some sunlight for part of the day, they will usually survive there too.
As mentioned, they need well-draining soil because they must be watered regularly (without, of course, becoming waterlogged). Consider digging plenty of organic compost to improve the water retention to help keep the soil moist. If the area is a little prone to waterlogging then we recommend improving the soil first, digging in plenty of grit and organic matter.
How to plant Crocosmia
Crocosmias are corms, which means you can plant them using the same method as bulbs. For this, dig holes in your garden 8 inches deep and fill them with well-rotted compost. Place a few corms in the hole, about 6 to 8 inches apart around 3 to 5 inches deep. This will help you create a reasonably sized clump of flowers in the near future. Then, cover with soil and water well, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged because this can rot the combs.
General Care
Once planted, you will need to protect them during winter and of course, keep them from drying out in summer. This simply means keeping the soil moist and now allowing them to dry out. They multiply very quickly so, within a few years, the clumps will be congested and need dividing in order to keep up the health and long-term the flowers that are produced.
Propagating Crocosmias
If you want to propagate from your Crocosmia, you can remove the clumps in spring, divide them, and then replant the divisions. We recommend that this is something you should do every 3-4 years.
You can learn more about how and when to divide Crocosmia in this guide
Problems – keep an eye out for spider mites
The good news is, unlike most plants, Crocosmia doesn’t have that many problems and remains disease and pest free most of the time. However, they can experience issues with spider mites.
The problem with the red spider mite is that they are so small you often don’t notice they are a problem until they have multiplied to the point of making webs across the plant. So, as soon as you notice the issue, treat them with a pesticide spray.
Recommended Varieties
- For compact gardens, you can grow the Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’ that has bright orange flowers with a mahogany throat.
- The Crocosmia ‘Citronella’ is an upright plant with small, yellow flowers.
- For height, you should try the Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ which grows up to 1.5m and produces fiery red blooms.
- For a hybrid with stunning, orange-red flowers, you can try the new Crocosmia ‘Harvest Sun’.
- If you want a medium height plant, try the Crocosmia ‘George Davison’. It grows to approximately 60cm and produces upright stems of golden yellow coloured flowers.
See the availability of Crocosmia that Yougarden.com have for sale
- Sorry but plants cannot be collected
- CUT FLOWERS - Lift and divide thinning out clumps to maintain vigour and encourage flowering. They make excellent cut flowers
- SUMMER COLOUR - Crocosmia are relatives of the Gladioli family having very similar attributes like their long sword like leaves and tall arching spiked stems that bare bright funnel shaped flowers throughout the summer
- EASY TO GROW - Although these deciduous plants are very easy plants to grow for the best results plant them in full sun on a well-drained site
- WHAT YOU GET - This listing is for one plant in a 9cm pot ready to be planted in the garden
- Pot Size (Supplied): 9cm
- Supplied Height (Incl. Pot): 20-30cm
- Characteristics: Perennial, green sword-shaped leaves with branched stems that carry several orange flowers in the Summer months.
- Height and Spread: 1 / 0.5m
- About this cultivar: Crocosmia 'Okavango' is a new, long booming, vigorous, introduction from the plantsman Bob Brown. In his words "it has dense heads of large rounded broad-petalled blowsy orange and peach flowers". Maybe the best Crocosmia?
- About this genus: Crocosmia is a wonderful genus of 11 species of easy-to-grow, perennial, summer flowering bulbs from Southern Africa. These iris family members (Iridaceae) produce blazing flower stalks in summer from fast-multiplying underground corms (bulb-like structures). The common name Montbretia commemorates Antoine Francois Ernest Conquebert de Monbret, a botanist who accompanied Napoleon on his Egyptian campaign from 1798-1801.
- The genus name Crocosmia is derived from the Greek "krokos" (for saffron) and "osme" (for smell) as the dried leaves smell like saffron when crushed. Crocosmia flowers also attract butterflies and more importantly hoverflies...imporant predators of aphids and other garden pests. Crocosmia species were first hybridized in the 1870's at the Lemoine nursery in France, and over 400 cultivars have been introduced. However many of the fine old cultivars have sadly been lost to history.
- The cultivars we have at Ballyrobert vary a bit in habit - some, like the aptly named 'Lucifer', can very vigorous and can take over the garden (if that's what you want) others, like the aptly named Lady Hamilton, are well behaved. As for soil and situation, we find they grow anywhere that isn't too extreme - if you have a very devilish spot in your garden, stick 'Lucifer' in there (pun intended).
- Position: Full sun, partial shade Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert Flowers: July, August, September, October Other features: Grows well in Ballyrobert Hardiness: Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert! Habit: Clump forming Foliage: Deciduous Height: 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 ft) Spread: 60 - 90 cm (2 - 3 ft) Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, bulb Colour: Green, red, orange
- Perfect for hot colour schemes, Crocosmia 'Harlequin' boasts starry, funnel-shaped flowers with a golden yellow throat and alternating orange/red shades on the reverse of the petals
- Easy to grow and reliable, Crocosmias are high-performance border plants, creating intense colour later in summer and through into autumn
- Plants also provide interesting foliage with their upright, strap-shaped leaves
- Supplied as 1x Crocosmia 'Harlequin' 9cm potted plant
- HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL PLANT: This crocosmia plant is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial plant with flowers that return year after year. Our outside plant provides a reliable flowering display without needing replanted.
- STRIKING FLOWERS: Our outdoor garden plant features fiery orange, tubular blooms with a small yellow throat. These vibrant outdoor flowers add a striking splash of colour to gardens and attract pollinators like hummingbirds and bees, promoting a healthy garden ecosystem.
- GROWTH AND SPREAD: Our outdoor potted plant arrives at a convenient height, including the pot, making it perfect for immediate, hassle-free planting. This flowering plant can grow to an impressive height of 0.5-1 m, with a spread of 0.1-0.5 m.
- FAST-GROWING SHRUB: This patio fruit tree is a fast-growing shrub that quickly enhances your garden's fruit selection with its lush, vigorous growth. It can reach an impressive height of 1.8 metres and a spread of 1.5 metres.
- PLANTING INSTRUCTION: This garden-ready perennial prefers moist, well-drained soil, requiring less frequent watering to prevent root diseases. Our flowering plant thrives in full sun or partial shade. In autumn, remove any dead leaves or flowers to promote healthy spring growth.
- Characteristics: Deciduous perennial with attractive orange-yellow flowerheads that grow from green stems.
- Growth and Spread: Grows to around 0.5m tall, spreading to roughly 1m wide.
- Period of Interest: Begins to flower in early May, with these blooms lasting until late August.
- Water and Maintenance: Requires protection from frost. Dead foliage should be removed in Autumn and should be watered once a week, keeping the soil moist.
- Pot Size (Supplied): 9cm
- Supplied Height (Incl. Pot): 20-30cm
- Characteristics: Perennial, mid-green sword-shaped leavesand bright red funnel-shaped flowers that appear in clusters.
- Height and Spread: 1.5 / 0.5m
- These bulbs produce an abundance of bright orange blooms, each flushed with gold, surrounded by masses of sword-like green foliage
- With vibrant colours and upright stems, this hardy outdoor flowering perennial is sure to make a garden display that can’t be missed
- Unlike other varieties, this Crocosmia is easy to grow and maintain due to its compact, dwarf habit perfect for patio once potted
Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
