Bulbs

Crocosmia
crocosmia

- Height 3-4 ft (90-120 cm)
- Planting distance 4-6 in (10-15 cm)
- Flowers midsummer to early fall
- Well-drained soil
- Sunny, sheltered site
- Corms available early to late spring
- Hardy zones 7-10

A clump of crocosmias presents a cheerful sight in summer and early fall with their sword-shaped green leaves and profuse sprays of orange flowers. They like well-drained soil and sun, and spread rapidly, so give them plenty of room - sunny banks are a favorite spot, but the flowers also look attractive planted in clumps among shrubs or herbaceous perennials. The tubular flowers are held on wiry stems 4 ft (120 cm) tall. they come in varying shades of orange or yellow, depending on the cultivar, and are excellent for flower arranging.

Popular species and cultivars
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora, (montebretia) has orange flowers opening from midsummer to late fall. In milder parts of the country this race of hybrids will naturalize; up through zone 7 they will overwinter reliably if given a warm, sheltered site. Montebretias spread rapidly, so allow plenty of room. Several cultivars, which are less rampant, have been developed from C. x crocosmiiflora. They offer the gardener almost every shade of orange, as well as yellow and red: 'Bressingham Blaze' and 'Emberglow' are orange-red; 'Emily McKenzie' is deep orange with crimson-brown markings; 'Jenny Bloom' is deep yellow; 'Lucifer' (3 ft/90 cm) is brilliant flame-red and early flowering; 'Sofatare' is apricot-yellow with bronze-flushed leaves; and 'Spitfire' is fiery orange. Mixed collections of these cultivars are available from some nurseries. Crocosmia masoniorum has bright orange blooms that appear in succession in mid- and late summer. Smaller than the hybrids' flowers, they are also more densely packed together on their arching stems.

Bulbs