I have never experienced flop with my Crocosmia but then I've been dividing mine greedily for years. It's everywhere in my gardens front and back because it multiplies like crazy and I have a stupid big garden to fill. But you cant fault the plant really! I love the clumps of bright green foliage in early summer, the little trumpet flowers in beautiful colours and even the knobbly bits that form after it goes to seed. It even thrives in shady spots for me and the die back is a splendid autumn show with natural mulch for the little bulbs until the spring. Gosh, a round of applause for Crocosmia.
If you are referring to Lucifer, then I agree, Wintersong. A lovely plant for my hot border.
I also have Dusky Maiden, which has lovely bronze leaves, and George Davison, which is a golden amber colour. They are lovely to, but not as big and handsome as Lucifer. Christopher Lloyd had a variety called 'Late Lucifer' that flowers three weeks after Lucifer, thus extending its season if you plant both. It was a seedling from Lucifer. They didn't have any for sale when I visited Great Dixter. I must have a look and see if they sell it maill order.
I'll check this out. I was tempted last year to buy a yellow version at B&Q (my local nursery for the time being as my husband is unable to drive).
At the moment I have the common-garden unnamed orange type, which I dug up from my mother's garden ten years ago and didn't realise there was such a difference in height/habit as well as flower colour. I must say, Lucifer sounds handsome!
This isn't maybe the right thread to bring this up but can anyone tell me how long it might take for divided crocosmia sections to grow to flowering stage? I took over this garden 3 years ago and had never gardened. I don't know what type the crocosmia is but it was planted many many years ago before the lovely tree in next door's garden grew to a fair size - so the crocosmia is now in dappled shade. 2010 it had only three stems with flowers which died before opening. Picture taken at the time show it covered in bugs of some kind. As a beginner, I held off trying to divide until this February. Planted 5 sections which have come up in sunny spot and now range from 3" to 7" shoots.. I'm wondering if it will be years and years before they gain maturity to flower and if I ought to feed them with anything specific in the meantime.
I think you should see flowers now that you have divided them. I'm not sure the time to maturity between tiny new bulb and flowering, probably about two years (guessing) since they are very very vigorous. Treat them mean too, so long as they don't dry out, I have never fed or pampered mine. Just regular division. And dappled shade is fine also for my kind. I can't speak for every cultivar, mine is the unnamed common orange kind.
Oh and the bugs are black-fly. I get them too but don't worry, the ladybird larvae soon scoop them all up.
Hello Wintersong. Thanks for this response.. It's really encouraging to learn from the experiences of others who share their advice, knowledge, ideas and enthusiasm here so generously.
Gold1locks - good video. Thanks for directing me there. I was amazed the separated corms produced healthy shoots so early so will look forward to the summer and see what happens.
Here's an idea. You can buy lots of green split canes very cheaply on ebay. Buy some window putty from your local diy store. Make balls our of the putty, stick the canes into it to make a lattice any shape and size that you want. Cheap and easy!
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I have never experienced flop with my Crocosmia
but then I've been dividing mine greedily for years. It's everywhere in my gardens front and back because it multiplies like crazy and I have a stupid big garden to fill. But you cant fault the plant really! I love the clumps of bright green foliage in early summer, the little trumpet flowers in beautiful colours and even the knobbly bits that form after it goes to seed. It even thrives in shady spots for me and the die back is a splendid autumn show with natural mulch for the little bulbs until the spring. Gosh, a round of applause for Crocosmia.
Sounds like Gold1locks has good advice
If you are referring to Lucifer, then I agree, Wintersong. A lovely plant for my hot border.
I also have Dusky Maiden, which has lovely bronze leaves, and George Davison, which is a golden amber colour. They are lovely to, but not as big and handsome as Lucifer. Christopher Lloyd had a variety called 'Late Lucifer' that flowers three weeks after Lucifer, thus extending its season if you plant both. It was a seedling from Lucifer. They didn't have any for sale when I visited Great Dixter. I must have a look and see if they sell it maill order.
I'll check this out. I was tempted last year to buy a yellow version at B&Q (my local nursery for the time being as my husband is unable to drive).
At the moment I have the common-garden unnamed orange type, which I dug up from my mother's garden ten years ago and didn't realise there was such a difference in height/habit as well as flower colour. I must say, Lucifer sounds handsome!
This isn't maybe the right thread to bring this up but can anyone tell me how long it might take for divided crocosmia sections to grow to flowering stage? I took over this garden 3 years ago and had never gardened. I don't know what type the crocosmia is but it was planted many many years ago before the lovely tree in next door's garden grew to a fair size - so the crocosmia is now in dappled shade. 2010 it had only three stems with flowers which died before opening. Picture taken at the time show it covered in bugs of some kind. As a beginner, I held off trying to divide until this February. Planted 5 sections which have come up in sunny spot and now range from 3" to 7" shoots.. I'm wondering if it will be years and years before they gain maturity to flower and if I ought to feed them with anything specific in the meantime.
I think you should see flowers now that you have divided them. I'm not sure the time to maturity between tiny new bulb and flowering, probably about two years (guessing) since they are very very vigorous. Treat them mean too, so long as they don't dry out, I have never fed or pampered mine. Just regular division.
And dappled shade is fine also for my kind. I can't speak for every cultivar, mine is the unnamed common orange kind.
Oh and the bugs are black-fly. I get them too but don't worry, the ladybird larvae soon scoop them all up.
Hello Wintersong. Thanks for this response.. It's really encouraging to learn from the experiences of others who share their advice, knowledge, ideas and enthusiasm here so generously.
You should get flowers this summer! all the necessary 'ingredients' are already in the corms
This video may be useful:
http://video.about.com/gardening/Crocosmia-Care.htm
Gold1locks - good video. Thanks for directing me there. I was amazed the separated corms produced healthy shoots so early so will look forward to the summer and see what happens.
Loving this thread. I have a multitude of ideas I am now putting into practice - I will let you all know which was the most effective.
Thanks all
Here's an idea. You can buy lots of green split canes very cheaply on ebay. Buy some window putty from your local diy store. Make balls our of the putty, stick the canes into it to make a lattice any shape and size that you want. Cheap and easy!