Garden Montbretia Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora

Montbretia is a hybrid of Crocosmia aurea and Crocosmia pottsii. The hybrid was first made by Victor Lemoine in Nancy, France, in 1879. The hybrid is intermediate between the parents but more vigorous than either. Montbretia has since been found to occur naturally in the wild in South Africa, in areas where the two parental species grow together. It is a member of the iris family (Iridaceae). The species epithet means “having flowers like Crocosmia.” The hybrid was originally described in the genus Montbretia, which is now a synonym of Tritonia, and the flowers were (correctly) thought to resemble those of Crocosmia.

Montbretia grows in moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils, in partial shade or full sun. The corms should be dug and divided every two or three years to maintain vigor. Its corms can be round or flat and covered with brown fibrous layers. Propagation can be accomplished by division, done just before the new growth begins. You may want to remove deal stems and leaves in the spring before new growth begins.

The dramatic reddish-orange flowers of montbretia are exciting and eye-catching in the garden. Flowers form in two rows along the branches at the stem top. Each branch can have 4 to 20 flowers. Although still popular as an ornamental, montbretia has become an escaped weed in both tropical and temperate areas of the world, spreading in disturbed sites as well as wet grasslands, open woodlands, pastures, gardens, wastelands and along roadsides. 

Use montbretia carefully in herbaceous borders of butterfly, pollinator, children's or cottage gardens.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  It can be affected by spider mites. Maintenance is considered high due to its weedy nature. Care should be taken when disposing of unwanted plants and corms lest they become established.

More information on Crocosmia.