Montbretia Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Montbretia:
- Phonetic Spelling
- kroh-KOZ-mee-ah kroh-koz-mee-ih-FLOR-ah
- Description
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Native to South Africa and produced in France, it is a hybrid of horticultural origin from two Crocosmia species, Crocosmia aurea and Crocosmia pottsii.
Once cultivated as an ornamental, it has since become invasive on the west coast, spreading in disturbed sites as well as wet grasslands, open woodlands, pastures, gardens, wastelands, and along roadsides. It will compete for space with native plants, and has succeeded in displacing some natives by aggressively competing for water and nutrients. As it spreads, the abundance of corms in the soil tends to break down the soil allowing erosion along creeks and riverbanks.
The dramatic reddish-orange flowers of Crocosmia 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. The flowers are yellow or reddish-orange with a yellow center. Its tepals are fused together to form a tubular shape.
The corms should be dug and divided every 2-3 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. Pruning is not required. You may want to remove deal stems and leaves in the spring before new growth begins.
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 waste materials.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Solfatare'
Apricot-yellow flowers. - 'Star of the East'
Soft orange flowers
- 'Solfatare'
- 'Solfatare', 'Star of the East'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Solfatare'
Apricot-yellow flowers. - 'Star of the East'
Soft orange flowers
- 'Solfatare'
- 'Solfatare', 'Star of the East'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crocosmia
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Home gardens
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Africa
- Wildlife Value:
- Hummingbirds love the tubular shaped flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Wildlife Larval Host
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit consists of a 3-lobed capsule that forms after the plant flowers. The green capsule matures to brown. It contains, shrivelled, triangular, red or brown seeds that may not be viable.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Corymb
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The zig zag rachis produces these two-toned orange/red/burgundy flowers perhaps lasting up to a month.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Its flat, sword shaped, bright green leaves can reach lengths of up to 40". They may be pleated at the base. Each corm will produce 6 to 12 leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Form:
- Zig Zags
- Stem Description:
- The stems typically have a few branches near the tips.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Cutting Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Dry Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy