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Crocosmias are a great way to add bright flowers to your border gardens, full of citrus shades. There are literally hundreds of varieties from which to choose from such as the popular crocosmia lucifer with bright red flowers as shown in the main picture or Crocosmia spitfire which its fire-orange flowers which is a dwarf variety so you can find something no matter the size, shape, or style of your garden.
Some grow in upright shapes, with bright green leaves while others produce sprays of flowers you will no doubt want to display on your tables as they also make the excellent cut flowers, plus they flower prolifically and can be divided every 3 years to get even better displays.
Where to grow crocosmia plants
If you plant Crocosmias you need fertile, well-draining but moist soil. They’re not 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 water-logging 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 the same as bulbs. For this, dig holes in your garden 8 inches deep and fill it 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 and keep the soil moist but not waterlogged as 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 which just 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 flowers produced.
Propagating crocosmias
If you want to propagate, you can remove the clumps in spring and divide them, then replant the divisions. However, you should do this every 3-4 years regularly.
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 don’t have many problems and remain disease and pest free most of the time. However, they can have 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 multiplied to the point of making webs across the plant. So, as soon as you notice the issue, treat it with a pesticide spray.
Recommended Varieties
See availability of crocosmia at Yougarden.com for sale
- For compact gardens, you can grow Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’ which has bright orange flowers with a mahogany throat.
- Crocosmia ‘Citronella’ is an upright with small, yellow flowers.
- For height, you should try ‘Lucifer’ which grows up to 1.5 m with fiery red blooms.
- For a hybrid with stunning, orange-red flowers, try the new Crocosmia ‘Harvest Sun’.
- If you want a medium height plant, try the Crocosmia ‘George Davison’ – at 60cm, with upright stems of golden yellow flowers.
- 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.
- Devil flaming red trumpet shaped blooms
- Exotic flowers with wonderful arched stems perfect for cottage gardens
- Bold and beautiful displays from June through to the end of September
- Supplied with T&M's very own cultural instructions on how to care for your plants.
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- Characteristics: Deciduous perennial with bronze-green foliage that is joined by spike-like, crimson-red flowers.
- Growth and Spread: Grows to around 0.5m tall, spreading to roughly 0.5m wide.
- Period of Interest: Begins to flower in July, with these blooms lasting until early Autumn into September.
- 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
- 3 Crocosmia Lucifer orange-red freesia like flowers flared out along dark bronze green stems, rise on long stems over grass like green leaves
- orange-red freesia like flowers
- Grows to 100cm high
- flowering from June to July
- Makes excellent cutflowers and a dramatic impact to any border
- Crocosmia Honey Angels yellow flowers with cream throats from late summer over green leaves
- yellow flowers with cream throats
- Height 50cm
- flowers from late summer
- Makes excellent cutflowers and a dramatic impact to any border
- 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
- Crocosmia Harlequin clump forming perennial with lance shaped green leaves and bright golden yellow flowers with outer petals alternating red and orange flowers in summer months
- bright golden yellow flowers with outer petals alternating red and orange flowers
- Height 90cm
- flowers in summer months
- 3 plants in 9cm pots
Last update on 2022-01-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
