Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Red King'

RHS Plant Profile

montbretia 'Red King'

Synonyms

Crocosmia 'Red King'

Herbaceous Perennial Bulbs

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A clump-forming perennial, to 70cm in height, with narrow, strap-like leaves and racemes of bright red, funnel shaped flowers with hints of yellow, to 10cm across, in late summer. Anthers are golden yellow as are the flower throats

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H4

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: 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

Plant corms in spring, 10cm deep in well-drained soil, in full sun or light shade. Space corms 7.5–10cm apart in groups to form clumps. See the RHS guide to growing crocosmia for more information

Propagation

Propagate by separating corms when dormant

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