Crocosmia crocosmiiflora Small flowers Mix

The Mix of Small Flowered Crocosmia brings together several varieties of montbretias whose small flowers display various colours, always within the range of yellows, oranges, and reds. They are very floriferous in summer and easy to grow in well-drained, moist, rich soil and in the sun. Create exotic large pots with these plants to decorate the terrace or plant them near the house, where you can admire their flamboyant flower clusters up close, in summer and even into autumn.

Crocosmia is a herbaceous perennial plant of South African origin, belonging to the Iridaceae family. It shows many similarities with gladiolus and is cultivated in the same way outside of the mildest regions. In nature, Crocosmia grows in the sun, in fertile, well-drained soil, moist in summer, and drier in winter. In the garden, they resist cold and humid winters more or less well, depending on the species and varieties.

In spring, Montbretia forms a clump of flexible basal leaves around 60-70 cm (24-28in) tall, which quickly expands. After 3 to 4 years of cultivation under good conditions, this clump of leaves can occupy almost 60 cm (24in) of ground space. Flowering occurs from July to September, in the form of slightly arched floral stems that can reach 70-80 cm (28-32in) high. They bear a branched, almost horizontal spike at the end, with numerous buds that open into small flowers directed horizontally or upwards, similar to thin daylilies with a diameter of 4 cm (2in). They consist of 3 inner petals and 3 outer petals. The dark green leaves are sword-shaped. Their surface is pleated and strongly veined, and they spread out in a dense fan or cluster from the base of the plant. The storage organ is a corm, which is a swollen stem surrounded by scales.

Montbretia is a symbol of summer and brings all the exoticism of its native land to our gardens. They are easy to grow, vigorous, and undemanding planted in groups of 10 corms in fertile, moist soil in the sun. Their vibrant colours, yellow, orange, or red, form very cheerful spots of colour in gardens. Their flamboyant flowering forms a beautiful combination with white, purple, or blue asters. They also go very well with heleniums, in front of screens of golden or very dark foliage provided by Physocarpus or Cotinus. In a more contemporary or naturalistic style, Crocosmias mix with grasses and phormiums.

When they thrive in the ground in a sunny exposure and rich, well-drained soil, they multiply and become more beautiful each year. They are also excellent plants for cutting.