Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora (Lemoine) N.E.Br.
Montbretie
Photo: KENPEI · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source
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Description
The garden Montbretie is a tuberous perennial that was bred in 1880 by Victor Lemoine in France as a hybrid of Crocosmia aurea and Crocosmia pottsii. Its arching racemes bear bright orange‑red, funnel‑shaped flowers that appear from July to September, adding warm late‑summer color to the garden. As a cut flower and in perennial beds it looks especially good next to grasses and other perennials. Popular cultivars include the fiery red ‘Lucifer’ and the orange‑colored ‘Emily McKenzie’ with a dark red throat. The slender, sword‑shaped leaves resemble gladiolus and provide structure even when the plant is not in flower.
Care instructions
Plant the Montbretie in a warm, sunny to half‑shaded spot in well‑drained, humus‑rich soil. Excess moisture causes tuber rot, so mix sand into heavy clay soils. Water regularly during the growing and flowering period, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. In regions with harsh winters, cover the tubers generously with leaf or bark mulch after the first frost or dig them up and store them in a frost‑free, dry cellar. Divide dense clumps every three to four years in spring to maintain flowering vigor.
Soil & site
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