Originating in South Africa, this genus of about 7 different species will quickly fill a space and put on a great show – with names such as ‘Lucifer’, ‘Emberglow’, ‘Spitfire’ and ‘Fire King’ you can just feel the colour!
The popular hybrid crocosmia x crocosmiiflora produces fantastic heads of flowers amongst spear-shaped foliage but it is a bit of a thug and seen as invasive in parts of Australia and California.
This plant, commonly known as Montbretia, attracts bees and hoverflies.
23 Mar, 2008
I am really hoping that 'Lucifer' grows from the new corms I planted a few weeks ago. If not, one of my friends in the village has it and has promised me some. OR failing those options, I could buy a potful from the Garden Centre at great expense! lol. See how determined I am!
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23 Mar, 2008
Hi lost you for a bit... I have the red crocosmia 'Lucifer', it is stellar in a clump...gorgeous stuff...
about the Dephiniums, in my pictures it's on the third page...it is a pic of the clump I rescued when it had been planted about a month(it was blooming)...for scale the link fence behind it is eight feet tall... it suffered no transplant shock and bloomed beautifully...moved it to a more sheltered spot that fall and the next summer it topped the 8 foot fence!!
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21 Mar, 2008
Hi Spritz - I must admit, I didn't know the species name, but I've looked it up. It seems that most garden varieties are officially referred to by the genus (Crocosmia) and the variety alone, i.e. no species name used. However, it does give Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora (C. aurea x C. pottsii) known by the common name of Montbretia and the description sounds just like 'the ordinary one'. I suspect a lot of illicit plant breeding has gone on with this plant, leaving the genetics all mixed up, which is the only reason I can think of why no species name is used...?
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21 Mar, 2008
Hi Dio - no, I just dig some up and move them with NO problems at all! They are only growing from corms, so the best time is when they are dormant but I have split a clump while they were in strong growth.
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21 Mar, 2008
I absolutely LOVE this flower !! The hummers love them too. I bought 3 different color a few years ago and the chipmunks or squirrels dug them up and ate every one ! So now I just have the origional red-orange one (Fire of Eden) that I got about 10 years ago and a yellow one (George Davidson).
I missed something about it being the "Hated Plant".......gonna go find that now.
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20 Mar, 2008
Great photo, very intense color.! I'm a sucker for bright colored flowers.
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20 Mar, 2008
Sid - do you know its name? I just call it 'the ordinary one' but it must have a proper name?
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20 Mar, 2008
Hi Spritzhenry ~ Sorry I left abruptly, but friends stopped by unexpectedly.
Oh my gosh, that is an incredible flower. If mine looks like that, I will definately keep it. I do hope mine are red as well.
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20 Mar, 2008
Well Harli, everyone is trying to convince you that this is a great plant. Hope yours turns out well!
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20 Mar, 2008
I have this one and I also have a beautiful yellow one called 'Honey Angels' which is worth having for the name alone!!
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20 Mar, 2008
Lovely crocosmia. I planted some last year and they didn't do very well. I think it was the heat. I think I can see them coming through now, and if so they look as if they have increased considerably, so I have hopes for this year.
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4 Mar, 2008
lucky you! this is beautiful and I'm taking note. I have Lucifer..it is the most amazing blazing red...just love it!!! I keep saying it but...I would love to garden in your climate. lol.
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20 Nov, 2007
Hello majeeekahead,
This one is called Rowallane. I got it from one of the shows not sure which, maybe Tatton Park as it's in July when crocosmias are in bloom. I think the nursery is also called Rowallane and you can find them online. They specialise in crocosmia.
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15 Nov, 2007
hi peter, yes i was - in fact i have been up most of the night with my grissly 2 1/2 year old - she has a snotty nose! so at the first break of daylight i plotted her up with a few toys in front of bob the builder on tv and out i went - it was freezing! look forward to seeing your pics too - i love the look of frost on everything - reminds me that christmas is on way!
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15 Nov, 2007
Hi Majeekahead, you must have been up early with the camera :o) It's the same here in Hampshire today and I've just taken a snaps too.
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Lori
11 Apr, 2008
Very familiar... mine have naturalized in my front garden...plant Acidanthera every year near the crocosmia and the corms are similar...had crocosmia blooming with the Acidanthera in the back garden the next summer...must have dug some of the wrong corms the fall before!!! Portable punctuation for the garden...great idea.
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