'Lucifer' Montbretia (Crocosmia)
Perennial
- Fiery-red blooms are a magnet for hummingbirds!
- Appealing vase-shaped form with iris-like foliage
- Handles heat, humidity, and mild drought.
- Ideal for container plantings.
- Zones 5-9, sun/part sun, 42" tall x 18" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
UNABLE TO SHIP TO: CANADA, MD
Description
Details
Common name: Montbretia
Zone: 5 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Height x width: 36 - 42" x 12 - 18"
Flower color: Red
Foliage color: Green
Season of interest: Summer
Bloom time: Midsummer, late summer
Features: Wet soils, rain gardens, heat tolerant, deer resistant
Uses: Accent, background, border, cottage gardening, foundation planting, massing, naturalizing, ornamental, specimen, waterside
How to Grow
Light: Sun (> 6 hours sun) to part-sun (4-6 hours sun)
Water: Water regularly until established.
Spacing: 36 - 42"
Fertilizing: Fertilize in spring with a balanced fertilizer.
Winterizing: Plants are not reliably hardy in Zone 5. Dig up corm plants in fall and store in a dry location (similar to handling gladiolus bulbs).
Maintenance & pruning: Deadhead to prolong bloom. Divide when clumps become overcrowded.
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.
