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Size Guide

5.5
5.5" Perennial
3 or more $14.00 ea
Regularly: $14.99 ea

Montbretia

Scott's Nursery Ltd.

$14.99
Title

Inject a sensational burst of exotic, tropical drama into your summer garden with this breathtaking architectural masterpiece. Rising proudly from the ground is a bold, upright fan of sword-like, ribbed leaves that resemble elegant wild irises. Arching gracefully above this structural foliage are long, wiry, jet-black stems that branch out into rows of intense, fiery blossoms. The large, star-shaped flowers flare wide open to reveal a luminous, glowing golden-orange palette with elegant, elongated stamens that dance beautifully in the breeze. It creates an unforgettable, high-energy silhouette that infuses sunny borders with a sense of passionate, untamed beauty.

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Plant Details

Mature Size:

24-36" H x 12-18" W

Zone:

6-9

Watering:

Medium

Type:

Herbaceous Perennial

Growth Rate:

Moderate - Fast

Light:

Full Sun/Partial Shade

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Falling Stars, Golden Crocosmia, Valentine Flower, Montbretia

Scientific Name:

Crocosmia aurea

Type:

Thriller / Tall Architectural / Exotic Perennial

Growth Details:

Mature Size: Height of 60–90 cm (24–36 inches) x Width of 30–45 cm (12–18 inches).

Growth Habit: Upright, clumping, and slowly spreading via underground corms.

Form: Erect, architectural fan topped with arching, horizontal flower sprays.

Growth Rate: Medium to fast; builds a robust, full-sized clump within a single growing season.

Flowering: Highly prolific with multiple star-shaped blooms opening sequentially along the stem.

Flowering Time: Mid-summer through early autumn.

Flower Colour: Brilliant bright orange to rich golden-yellow.

Environmental Needs:

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade (needs a minimum of 4 to 6 hours of sunlight daily).

Soil Preferences: Thrives in rich, fertile, humus-heavy, moist loam with a neutral to slightly acidic pH (\(6.0 - 6.8\)).

Soil Tolerance: Forgiving of sandy or grittier soils if organic matter is added to hold moisture. Intolerant of heavy, dense, waterlogged winter clay.

Watering: Moderate. Prefers regular, deep watering to ensure the root zone never bakes completely dry.

Container Role: Functions as an exceptional, high-impact vertical Thriller in large porch and patio estate pots.

Special Features:

Disease Resistances: Exceptionally robust and virtually untroubled by common garden fungal diseases like powdery mildew.

Native Species: Proudly native to the moist woodlands, stream banks, and forest margins of Southern and Eastern Africa.

Fast Growing: Swiftly pushes up a dense wall of structural green foliage every spring.

Attracts: An absolute premium magnet for hummingbirds, butterflies, and large native bees.

Uses: Exceptional exotic cut flowers, back-of-border architectural structure, tropical landscaping, and structural container accents.

Resistance: Notably resistant to deer, rabbits, and summer heat waves due to the tough, fibrous nature of its foliage.

Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

Bloom Information: Features large, highly showy, hanging star-shaped blossoms that create a dazzling, multi-toned effect.

Fall Colour: Following the spectacular bloom show, the flowers transform into highly attractive, decorative green and bronze seed pods that look wonderful in autumn.

Garden Value:

Ornamental Interest: Delivers exceptional architectural texture through its blade-like foliage fans, dark wiry stems, and fiery star-like blossoms.

Landscaping Uses: Perfect for mid-to-back borders, exotic or tropical-style garden beds, cottage gardens, naturalized meadows, and premium cutting gardens.

Garden/Landscape Benefits: Forms a dense, structural clump that fills vertical space beautifully, acts as a brilliant focal point, and offers incredible wind resistance.

Wildlife & Human Value:

Wildlife Value: Provides a major high-summer nectar station for hummingbirds, who are intensely drawn to the tubular, bright orange floral architecture.

Human Value: Offers homeowners a dependable way to add a premium, professional "designer look" to standard garden beds. The cut flower stems are highly prized by floral designers for adding dramatic lines and long-lasting exotic flair to premium vase arrangements.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

Best Time To Plant: Plant the underground corms in early spring after the threat of hard frost has passed and the soil begins to warm.

Spacing: Space 15–20 cm (6–8 inches) apart from center to center. Plant corms approximately 8–10 cm (3–4 inches) deep.

Location Tips: Choose a highly visible, sun-drenched spot with excellent drainage. Avoid deep depressions where heavy winter rain or snowmelt creates standing water.

Companion Plants: Pairs exquisitely with Salvia, Echinacea (Coneflower), Kniphofia (Red Hot Poker), and structural ornamental grasses like Miscanthus.

Care:

Light Requirements: Requires full sun to partial shade. Performs best with strong morning sun and a touch of dappled afternoon shelter in sizzling hot climates.

Moisture Requirements: Needs consistently moist, well-drained soil during the active spring growing and summer blooming periods.

Maintenance: Low maintenance. Snip off the spent flower stems at the base once blooming concludes to keep the plant looking tidy. Leave the green foliage intact until it naturally turns yellow in late autumn.

Fertilization: Apply a light top-dressing of organic compost or a balanced, slow-release bulb fertilizer in early spring as the green spears first break through the soil. Avoid over-fertilizing.

Tolerances:

High heat and humidity tolerant, Wind and sea-spray tolerant, Poor soil tolerant (if well-drained), Deer and rabbit resistant

Tips For Success:

Thinning/Pinching: Divide large, overcrowded clumps every 3–4 years in spring to maintain maximum flowering vigor and prevent the center from declining.

Support/Staking: Completely unnecessary; the arching, wiry stems are incredibly tough and naturally flexible, resisting wind damage without snapping.

Mulching: Apply a 5 cm (2-inch) layer of organic mulch around the base in spring to lock in root moisture. In Zone 6, apply a thick layer of leaf or straw mulch in late autumn to insulate the corms from deep frost.

Winter Protection: In colder climates (Zone 5 and below), dig up the corms in late autumn after the first light frost, brush off the soil, and store them in a cool, dry, frost-free location in peat moss until spring.

Fruit Profile