Lots to think about. We are wildlife gardeners, including wildlife ponds. I know all gardens and ponds are natural to a degree, but we try very hard to encourage wildlife and not to use chemicals, precisely for the reasons obelixx has put forward.
I guess it's back to good old manual labour re crocosmia!
Does anything eat crocosmia? Could we grow it for cattle feed? I have never seen anything with such a strong life urge. I inherited mine with my house, 20 years ago. Over years of neglect, it created its own mound of 'soil' through piling up layers of its own corms (I live in an area of little soil so likely have been spared it spreading into the lawn.). It took a pick-axe to get the little mountain shifted, and then you can just imagine what happened! The ones I put in a plastic garbage can and battened down -- a year ago -- are still sending pallid shoots up. The ones I put into a plastic bag thought they had their own greenhouse and have luxurient growth. Ditto the ones in the composter. A lump of corms I put out to die just on the concrete is still sending out shoots. I am now picking out the little ones coming up in the bed from which I took the big ones. I can't even think of them as beautiful; they nearly took over the driveway!
Too bad I did not know about everyone's Crocosmia problems. If anyone is still having a surplus Crocosmia problem, I'd be glad to take them off of your hands? I have 3 acres with several prairie gardens for bees, butterflies etc. So, I'd like to plant for hummingbirds and Crocosmia corms would be a great help.
I am in zone 5. I have two crocosmia lucifer and a yellow one. Mine definitely dont spread vigorously. I would also like to be to take some off from others who dont want more of them.
I had crocosmia taking over a bed of roses. Tried digging them out and they came back in force. Weed membrane topped with CARPET then bark then pulling any stragglers that made it through. It worked for me. Still like them but will keep in pots to fill in borders.
I have just been given some Crocosmia tubers to plant in my front garden Its an area 12 x 3 foot bordered by concrete on 3 sides and a hedge on the fourth
There are 3 rose bushes and I intended planting some in between the roses
Any thoughts friends ?
Everyone is just trying to be Happy.....So lets help Them.
@NewBoy2 I have some Emily Mckenzie Crocosmia between roses in my ‘Oranges and Lemons’ bed, lovely flowers, quite compact, allegedly short-lived, so I guessed not too invasive which is why I felt confident mixing with roses. There is a lovely yellow croc called Diademe I have my eye on, which is meant to be a slow grower so shouldn’t overwhelm roses either. I would be wary of some of even the named cultivars, which can be quite spreading and vigorous, I believe.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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Thanks obelixx and nutcutlet.
Lots to think about. We are wildlife gardeners, including wildlife ponds. I know all gardens and ponds are natural to a degree, but we try very hard to encourage wildlife and not to use chemicals, precisely for the reasons obelixx has put forward.
I guess it's back to good old manual labour re crocosmia!
Does anything eat crocosmia? Could we grow it for cattle feed? I have never seen anything with such a strong life urge. I inherited mine with my house, 20 years ago. Over years of neglect, it created its own mound of 'soil' through piling up layers of its own corms (I live in an area of little soil so likely have been spared it spreading into the lawn.). It took a pick-axe to get the little mountain shifted, and then you can just imagine what happened! The ones I put in a plastic garbage can and battened down -- a year ago -- are still sending pallid shoots up. The ones I put into a plastic bag thought they had their own greenhouse and have luxurient growth. Ditto the ones in the composter. A lump of corms I put out to die just on the concrete is still sending out shoots. I am now picking out the little ones coming up in the bed from which I took the big ones. I can't even think of them as beautiful; they nearly took over the driveway!
Hi Manxlad, I collect crocosmia. I have Minstral, George Davidson, Lucifer & Buttercup.
Do you have any I could take off your hands?
Thanks.
Molly.
Too bad I did not know about everyone's Crocosmia problems. If anyone is still having a surplus Crocosmia problem, I'd be glad to take them off of your hands? I have 3 acres with several prairie gardens for bees, butterflies etc. So, I'd like to plant for hummingbirds and Crocosmia corms would be a great help.
Maureen
I take it you're gardening in RSA or thereabouts Maureen - it'd be a surprise if we got hummingbirds on our crocosmia here
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I am in zone 5. I have two crocosmia lucifer and a yellow one. Mine definitely dont spread vigorously. I would also like to be to take some off from others who dont want more of them.
Weed membrane topped with CARPET then bark then pulling any stragglers that made it through.
It worked for me.
Still like them but will keep in pots to fill in borders.
Its an area 12 x 3 foot bordered by concrete on 3 sides and a hedge on the fourth
There are 3 rose bushes and I intended planting some in between the roses
Any thoughts friends ?
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”