Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora (28/08/2014, Rue de la Pointe Park, Brest, France)
Position: Full sun to partial shade
Flowering period: Summer
Soil: Moist, well drained
Eventual Height: 90cm
Eventual Spread: 40cm
Hardiness: 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Family: Iridaceae
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora is a deciduous cormous perennial with a clump forming habit. It bright green erect leaves ere lanceolate with entire margins, basal and channeled. Its orange hermaphrodite flowers are funnel shaped, up t5cm long and appear as dense branching racemes. Its roots appear from corms which are up to 25mm across, these produce stolons with new corms and aids its spread.
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Flower (28/08/2014, Rue de la Pointe Park, Brest, France)
The Crocosmia genus, commonly known as Montbretia is native to South Africa. In their native habitat they grow in moist grassland. Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora is a cross between Crocosmia aurea with Crocosmia pottsii, produced by Victor Lemoine in 1880. It is considered an invasive species in New Zealand.
The etymological root of the binomial name Crocosmia is derived from the Greek krokos, meaning ‘saffron’, and osme, meaning ‘odour’. Crocosmiiflora is derived from the Latin meaning ‘flowers like a Crocosmia’.
The landscape architect may find Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora useful in an informal prairie scheme or as part of a mixed planting scheme. Once established it also drought tolerant.
Ecologically, Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora flowers are attractive to polinating insects.
The Royal Horticultural Society have given a number of varieties of Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora their prestigious Award of Garden Merit.
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora Leaf (28/08/2014, Rue de la Pointe Park, Brest, France)
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora prefers moist, fertile, well-drained soils. It tolerates most pH of soil.
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora little maintenance. The foliage may be left on the plant over winter to protect the corms. The clumps may be divided in spring.
