Crocosmia × crocosmioides 'Castle Ward Late'

RHS Plant Profile
montbretia 'Castle Ward Late'

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montbretia 'Castle Ward Late' Dorling Kindersley Ltd
montbretia 'Castle Ward Late' Dorling Kindersley Ltd
montbretia 'Castle Ward Late' RHS

Synonyms

Crocosmia latifolia 'Castle Ward Late'

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A cormous, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial, with an upright growing habit up to 1.1m tall when in flower. It has mid-green, blade-like leaves and arching flower stems that bear an abundance of downward-facing, reddish-orange, starry flowers with reflexed petals from late summer to autumn. The flowers float above the foliage giving a light and graceful appearance. It grows well in shade

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 East–facing or West–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

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

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Coastal
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Banks and slopes

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