'Firestarter' Montbretia (Crocosmia)
Perennial
- Star shaped tropical flowers bloom mid-late summer!
- Clumping stand of sword shaped foliage offers season long texture!
- Rare & unusual perennial for Northern gardens.
- Zones 5-9, sun, 28” tall x 12" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
UNABLE TO SHIP TO: CANADA
Description
Montbretia, or falling stars, effortlessly handles heat, humidity, and mild drought, making it reliable and easy to grow. Plus, it's resistant to deer and rabbits. It's an excellent choice for hot borders, near boulders, tucked between shrubs, or containers. When happy, it multiplies very nicely, creating a substantial clump that can be shared with friends or spread around the garden. While it is hardy down to USDA zone 5, this tropical perennial requires extra winter care. Cover your plants with a thick layer of mulch before frost hits to ensure it returns the following year.
Details
Common name: Montbretia, Falling Stars
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Height x width: 28” tall x 12" wide
Flower color: Yellow/Orange
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer, fall
Bloom time: Summer
Features: Rare & unusual, heat tolerant, deer resistant, rabbit resistant
Uses: Flower gardens, border plant, mass planting, wildlife gardens, specimen, cut flowers, containers
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun)
Water: Keep the soil evenly moist.
Spacing: 8" - 12"
Fertilizing: Use a slow-release fertilizer once new leaves emerge.
Winterizing: Zones 5 and 6 should apply a layer of mulch over the plant for winter. If growing in colder zones in a container or as an annual, bring the container or corms inside in a cool dark place until spring.
Maintenance & pruning: Little needed. Cut flowers as desired for arrangements. If any dried portions of the plant remain in early spring, remove them before new growth begins. Divide Montbretia every 2-3 years for best performance.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.