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Crocosmia Zambesi - Montbretia

Crocosmia crocosmiiflora Zambesi
Montbretia

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Vigorous, spectacular, this Zambesi montbretia carries in summer, at 1 m (3ft) from the ground, spikes of large and beautiful 5 cm (2in) diameter flowers, each petal of which is a bright yellow-orange colour highlighted by a median stripe of a deeper orange. Flamboyant and generous, this perennial plant with its bulb is not very hardy in our moist soils in winter, but easy to grow as an annual in the sun, in cool but well-drained soil during the growing season. Superb in borders, its flowers are also sublime in a vase.  
Flower size
5 cm
Height at maturity
1 m
Spread at maturity
40 cm
Exposure
Sun
Hardiness
Hardy down to -12°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time March to May
Recommended planting time March to June
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Flowering time July to September
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Description

The Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Zambesi' is a variety of Montbretia that is vigorous and striking and will significantly impact a summer border. Its tall flower spikes bear large, beautiful flowers that resemble miniature daylilies in their appearance and yellow-orange colour with orange stripes. This tall plant, perennial by its bulb, is generous but not hardy in damp winter soils. However, it can be grown quickly as an annual in the sun in cool but well-drained soil during the growing season. Its flowers also look lovely in a vase.

 

The Crocosmia (x) crocosmiiflora is a herbaceous perennial plant with corms originating from South Africa and belonging to the Iridaceae family. It was obtained in France by Victor Lemoine around 1880. It shows many similarities with the gladiolus. Our garden montbretias need a lot of humidity throughout their growth and flowering period, as they come from regions where summer rains are abundant. They also like soils rich in compost.

The 'Zambesi' variety, registered in 2008, forms in spring a flexible basal clump of leaves, about 50-60 cm (20-24in) in height, and produces from July to September a curved, bronze-green flower stem that is 1 m (3ft) to 1.10 m (4ft) tall, carrying a horizontal, ramified spike adorned with numerous orange flower buds. They open into flowers about 5 cm (2in) in diameter, comprising six tepals: 3 inner and three outer petals. The tepals are traversed by a deep orange central line extending in a circle around the flower's base. Their slightly translucent texture allows the sun to enhance these hot colours. The dark green leaves are sword-shaped, with a plicate and strongly veined surface, and fan out or form a dense cluster from the base of the plant. The storage organ of Crocosmia is a corm, which is an underground pseudo-bulb that resembles a bulb but is formed by a swollen stem surrounded by scales. The above-ground vegetation disappears in winter, while the corm goes dormant, preferably in dry soil.

 

Half-bulb half-shrub Montbretias are symbols of summer. Easy to grow, vigorous, and not demanding, they can be planted in the sun in fertile and excellent soil. Their bright colours, yellow, orange, or red, create cheerful spots of colour in gardens. They look splendid when combined with annuals or shrubs. They are well suited for natural gardens, mixed with perennials (Buenos Aires Verbena, Hastate Verbena) or grasses (Stipa tenuifolia, Panicum virgatum Kulsenmoor...). When they thrive in open ground, in sunny exposure and well-drained soil, they multiply over the years and become more beautiful yearly. They are also excellent flowers for your bouquets.

Flowering

Flower colour yellow
Flowering time July to September
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 5 cm
Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green

Plant habit

Height at maturity 1 m
Spread at maturity 40 cm
Growth rate fast

Botanical data

Genus

Crocosmia

Species

crocosmiiflora

Cultivar

Zambesi

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

Montbretia

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference863191

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Planting and care

Plant crocosmias in full sun, preferably in spring. They need well-drained and aerated soil that does not retain too much water in winter when they remain in the ground. Work the soil well at the time of planting, and if necessary, incorporate some sand. They should be covered with a minimum of 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3in) of soil (the more they are buried, the better they resist frost) and spaced about fifteen cm apart. They like rich soils. Apply fertiliser at the time of planting and reapply it every spring. While they prefer well-drained soil in winter, crocosmias need plenty of water during their growing season and cannot tolerate any drought in summer. In regions with harsh winters, it is advisable to dig up the corms once the foliage has dried out and store them in a frost-free location. Another alternative is to cover the bed with a thick insulating layer at the beginning of winter and remove it in March.

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Planting period

Best planting time March to May
Recommended planting time March to June

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border
Hardiness Hardy down to -12°C (USDA zone 8a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 5 per m2
Exposure Sun
Soil pH Neutral
Soil type Silty-loamy (rich and light)
Soil moisture Moist soil, draining, fertile, sandy.

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Needs protection

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