Clever tips for growing crocosmia

When the show from your spring-flowering bulbs is long gone, you'll never miss them when the brilliant summer blossoms of crocosmia take centre stage. Here are some clever tips to help you choose and grow crocosmia the right way.

• Imagine arching flower spikes holding rows of vibrant trumpet-shaped florets that open gradually over several weeks, extending the show into early fall.
• Most often seen with bright red flowers, crocosmias also have yellow, orange or bicoloured blossoms.
• All are easy to grow and provide excellent cut flowers.
• Crocosmias look best when grown in a grouping of several plants at least 60 centimetres (25 inches) wide.
• The flat, pointed, sword-shaped leaves don't look spindly when grouped, and a sizable planting also provides the scale needed for these one- to 1.2-metre-tall (three- to four-foot-tall), narrow plants.
• Because crocosmias bloom in such hot colours, they are best grown in the company of plants with quieter flowers.
• Summer annuals, such as white petunias, blue ageratum or yellow zinnias make a fine frame for crocosmias and calm their fiery tones.
• Crocosmias also make good partners for yellow-flowered daylilies and fall-blooming asters.

• Old, reliable hybrids include 'Lucifer', possibly the hardiest and moist care-free variety whose saturated red flowers of are nearly synonymous with crocosmia, and yellow-flowered 'Jenny Bloom' and 'George Davidson'.
• Other good choices are 'Aurora' for orange flowers, 'Solfaterre' for apricot blooms, and 'His Majesty' for large red flowers with yellow centres.
• The red-and-orange flowers of Crocosmia masonoru., which grow on 70 centimetre (26 inch) stems, are particularly eye-catching.
• The individual flowers face upwards, and look like summer-blooming daffodils.

• Plant dormant crocosmia corms in early spring in a sunny, well-drained site. The corms are flattened disks with a slightly raised, pointed bud on the top of each one.
• Set the corms 12 centimetres (five inches) deep and 10 centimetres (four inches) apart.
• Add organic matter if needed to improve the soil's texture, but don't worry about fussing over these plants.
• For best results, fertilize with a controlled-release, all-purpose plant food in early summer, following label directions. The leaves will yellow if soil nutrients are lacking.
• After the first freeze in late fall, snip off foliage at ground level and dispose of the leaves.
• In Zones 5 and 6, spread 10 centimetres (four inches) of straw, leaves or other organic mulch over the dormant corms after the first freeze to insulate them from the ravages of winter.
• Dig, divide and replant every four to five years in early spring to avoid overcrowding, which leads to decreased flowering.
• When you lift the corms, you will see new ones atop the old ones. Break off the old, woody corms and replant only the young ones. They will bloom heavily the second year after division.
• Pests and diseases seldom trouble these care-free beauties.

Choosing and growing crocosmia might be easier than you think! Keep these clever tips in mind and get started today.