Montbretia (Crocosmia)
Montbretia (Crocosmia): Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Montbretia, also known as crocosmia, is a perennial plant in the iris family, Iridaceae. The genus Crocosmia originates in southern Africa and includes several species as well as numerous garden hybrids. Plants sold under this name therefore vary in size and flower colour. Their distinctive outline combines a clump of narrow leaves with flexible flower stems whose curves give the planting a sense of movement, even when the surrounding vegetation is still.The flowers appear in summer and may extend the display into early autumn, depending on the cultivar and local conditions. They resemble small trumpets arranged along stems that are often arching and branched. The buds open successively, so a single stem can carry flowers at different stages of development. Red, orange and yellow form the familiar colour range, with softer shades available in some cultivars. The shape of each flower and the arrangement of the blooms contribute as much…
