Crocosmia is a member of the lily family and a valuable late summer flower for the flower arranger.

Freesia like flowers of Crocosmia

Crocosmia are also known as Montbretia in the UK and coppertips or falling stars in the United States.

Native of South Africa, this hardy clump forming perennial grows from small corms and flowers from late July through August, with a profusion of reds, oranges and yellows, bringing height and warmth to the herbaceous border.

Crocosmia thrive in most well drained soils and are very hardy once established.  They will grow best in a sheltered sunny spot.

Clumps establish rapidly and can easily be divided in spring.

The strong flower stems and arching sprays of flowers lend themselves well to flower arranging but the long, lance shaped leaves are equally as useful, giving form and architecture to displays.

Although usually purchased as corms or bare root plants, crocosmia are easy to grow from seed and in warmer climates will self seed quite readily.  If you want to grow a range of crocosmia varieties, Plant World Seeds offer a mixed variety seed pack and many other unusual garden perennials.

Some of the more popular crocosmia varieties:

Crocosmia ‘Amberglow’ – Soft-orange flowers with purple spots around a cream centre and bronzed foliage. July-Aug.
Crocosmia ‘Auricorn’ – Soft orange flowers on arching stems with pleated foliage flowering from July through August.
Crocosmia ‘Babylon’ – A large flowered orange-red. Flowers July to August.
Crocosmia ‘Bicolor’ – A later flowering variety with flowers of red-orange and vermilion-red in August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Bowland Blaze’ – A shorter variety with spider shaped, dark red flowers on arched stems. July-August.
Crocosmia ‘Bressingham Beacon’ – Branched spikes of yellow flowers from August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Bressingham Blaze’ – Shorter variety with fiery red medium sized flowers from August through September
Crocosmia ‘Bridgemere hybrid’ – Orange flowers have a yellow centre on arching stems. August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Buttercup’ – Yellow flower with rounded petals from July to August.
Crocosmia ‘Cadenza’ – Tall variety. Bright orange flowers are tinged pink inside and with a yellow throat. August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Carmin Brilliant’ RHS AGM – Slightly shorter variety with orange-red flowers in June to August.
Crocosmia ‘Chinatown’ – Short variety. The lipstick red flowers have yellow centres. July through August.
Crocosmia ‘Columbus’ – A medium sized bright yellow montbretia. Flowering from July to August.
Crocosmia ‘Comet’ – Compact & short with fiery, upward-facing, pale orange and yellow flowers from July – August.
Crocosmia ‘Constance’ -A warm orange flower from June to August.
Crocosmia ‘Culzean Peach’  – Moderately tall with tubular flowers of peach pink, which are borne from August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Diademe’ – Yellow flowers blushed with red on tall upright flower spikes from August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Emberglow’ – A shorter variety with arching, branched spikes of dark red funnel shaped flowers. July through August.
Crocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’ – Orange-red flowers on bronze green stems. Grows to around 60cm high, flowering from June to July.
Crocosmia ‘Fandango’ – A new shorter, free flowering hybrid with bright, pale orange flowers on long stems  narrow. Aug.-Sept.
Crocosmia ‘Firebird’  – Tall, flame-orange flowers, from July onwards.
Crocosmia ‘Firefly’ – A new shorter variety with fiery red flowers. August through September.
Crocosmia ‘George Davidson’ – Tall yellow star shaped flowers. Flowers from June to August.
Crocosmia ‘Golden Fleece’ – Shorter variety with a profusion of medium-sized, clear yellow flower spikes. August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Highlight’ – Medium height with arching spikes of yellow-centred, pale orange flowers. August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Honey Angles’ – A shorter variety of montbretia with striking golden yellow flowers with cream throats. Late summer.
Crocosmia ‘Jackanapes’ – Orange flowers with yellow centres from late summer.
Crocosmia ‘Jennine’ – Very short variety with small, clear yellow flowers from August through September.
Crocosmia ‘John Boots’ -  fairly new yellow flowered variety which appear in June through August.
Crocosmia ‘Lana de Savary’ – Compact, with erect spikes of red flowers tinged with yellow. August to September.
Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ RHS AGM – A popular larger variety of montbretia with bright red flowers. Flowers July through August.
Crocosmia ‘Marcotijn’ – A shorter variety with arching spikes of flame-orange flowers from August to September.
Crocosmia ‘Meteor’  – Orange / yellow flowers during late June through August.
Crocosmia ‘Mistral’ – Wide star shaped, red flowers are born in arching sprays from July through August.
Crocosmia ‘Moira Reed’ – One of the taller varieties, growing to 120cm with recurved striking orange flowers from July.
Crocosmia ‘Orange Devil’ – Tall variety with orange-red flowers which are tinged gold on the inside. July-August.
Crocosmia ‘Orangeade’ – Arching spikes of star shaped flowers are a deep orange in colour. July-August.
Crocosmia ‘Queen of Spain’ – A shorter variety with sprays of flame-orange flowers splashed with yellow. July-Aug.
Crocosmia ‘Red King’  – Deep orange flowers fade to yellow at the base of the petals. Flowers from July through August.
Crocosmia ‘R.W.Wallace’ – A shorter variety with arching spikes of large, flat, orange flowers. July-August.
Crocosmia ‘Saracen’ – Dark red flowers are produced from June through August.
Crocosmia ‘Scarlatti’ – Bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers from August through September.
Crocosmia ‘Severn Sunrise’ RHS AGM – Short, compact grower. Profusion of  salmon orange flowers turn pink on fading. Aug.-Sept.
Crocosmia ‘Shocking’ – Bright orange flowers with a yellow eye, turning to pink in full sun. July-August.
Crocosmia ‘Spitfire’ – Very short variety with fiery orange red flowers. Late July through September.
Crocosmia ‘Tangerine Queen’ – Tall variety with long sprays of tangerine flowers from July through August.
Crocosmia ‘Venus’  – A shorter variety with red tipped flowers blooming from Late June through August.
Crocosmia ‘Voyager’ – A bright yellow flower blooming from July through August.
Crocosmia ‘Vulcan’ – Compact plant with deep red flowers. The deepest red of all Crocosmias. July-August.
Crocosmia ‘Zeal Giant’ – One of the tallest with arching spikes of  bright orange flowers from July through August.

Suppliers of Crocosmia

Plant World Seeds – For an economical way to grow man different varieties.

Trecanna Nursery – Specialists in Crocosmia

Crocus - Wide selection of crocosmia plants.

Halcyon Plants – A wide range of Crocosmia plants.

Broadleigh Gardens – Many varieties of crocosmia as corms.