Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Columbus'
montbretia 'Columbus'
A cormous, herbaceous perennial up to 1m tall when in flower. It has mid-green, blade-like leaves and arching flower stems that bear vibrant, orange-yellow tubular flowers that have a paler orange-yellow throat and an interesting red ring in the centre. The flowers emerge from attractive and unique, reddish-purple flower buds that extend the season of interest from mid to late summer.
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Orange Yellow Red Purple | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Iridaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Genus
Crocosmia are deciduous cormous perennials with erect, sword-shaped leaves and branched spikes of showy, funnel-shaped flowers in summer
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Corms should be planted in moderately fertile, humus rich soil approximately 10cm deep and 7.5–10cm apart in groups to form clumps. Water if it is a dry season as a lack of water reduces flowering. This species is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife and Countryside Act as an invasive, non-native species. While this does not prevent it or its cultivars from being sold in the UK, or from being grown in gardens, the RHS encourages those that do grow it to take great care with managing it and with disposing of unwanted material to ensure that it does not spread outside of the garden.
Propagation
Propagate by division in early spring when clumps become congested or Propagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- Cottage and informal garden
- Coastal
- City and courtyard gardens
- Low Maintenance
- Cut flowers
- Banks and slopes
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
No pruning required, except the removal of dead leaves and flower stems before new growth starts in spring.
Pests
May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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