With their striking sword-like foliage and dazzling flowers, crocosmias bring a bright burst of high-summer colour to the garden. Words John Hoyland, photos Jason Ingram

By John Hoyland

Published: Tuesday, 27 June 2023 at 12:00 am

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The fiery red and orange flowers of Crocosmia have been making a vibrant contribution to British gardens since they first started to appear in nurseries at the end of the 19th century. There are now hundreds of cultivars and hybrids, all descended from a handful of species. Crocosmia is a relatively small genus, with less than a dozen species native to southern and eastern Africa, where they are mainly found growing in open, moist grasslands and on forest margins. Crocosmia aurea is the most widely known species and exhibits many of the qualities that make the genus attractive garden plants.

Jump to

• How to grow Crocosmia
• When to plant crocosmia
• When do crocosmia flower?
• Where to plant crocosmia
• Caring for crocosmia
• Lifting and dividing crocosmia
• What to do with discarded crocosmia
• Crocosmia pests and hardiness
• Where to see and buy crocosmia
• The best crocosmia to grow

 

How to grow Crocosmia

When to plant crocosmia

Crocosmias are sold as both dormant corms (that look similar to gladioli) or as growing plants. Corms should be planted in spring; plants growing in pots can be planted any time. Before planting, incorporate lots of organic material, such as garden compost or well-rotted manure, into the soil. Corms should be planted to around three or four times their depth.