Crocosmia mathewsiana

RHS Plant Profile
Mathew's montbretia

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Crocosmia mathewsiana?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Mathew's montbretia RHS
Bulbs
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
1 Suppliers

A tall, clump-forming, cormous perennial to 2m with very narrow, pleated leaves. Orange, funnel-shaped flowers are produced in mid-to late summer on unbranched sprays that start arched downwards then become horizontal

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
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)
H3

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
Correct
Plant Range
S Africa (Drakensberg Mts)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant 8-10cm deep in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained and preferably sandy soil in full sun or partial shade. I all but mild areas will require shelter from cold, drying winds and a thick, dry, organic mulch in winter. If clumps become congested, divide them in early spring. Has the potential to become a nuisance in some gardens if not managed well

Propagation

Propagate by division of established clumps in spring, just before new growth starts

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Prairie planting
  • Low Maintenance
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders
  • Banks and slopes
  • Cut flowers

Pruning

No pruning required, except removal of dead leaves and flower stems in autumn or before new growth starts in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free