Crocosmia
CROCOSMIA, synonym Montbretia
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Crocosmia pottsii (pronounced crow-KOS-me-ah POTS-ee)
Family: Iridaceae (Iris)
Height: 18′ – 24
Spread: 24″ – 36″
Spacing: 12″ – 18″
Perennial – Sun to Part Shade
HABIT: Red-orange flowers in early summer. Spreading perennial with sword-shaped gladiola-like leaves. Native to grasslands in southern and eastern Africa, ranging from Sudan south to South Africa. There is a separate species native to Madagascar.
CULTURE: Easy to grow from corms that send out stolons to form new plants.
USES: Perennial garden color, cut flowers.
NOTE: Can become invasive in healthy sods.
PROBLEMS: Tends to sprawl. Too much water and fertilizer can cause weak growth.
