Also known as Montbretia · 349 gardener saves
Crocosmia: the varieties gardeners actually grow
Crocosmia, the genus most gardeners know as montbretia. We track 17 varieties; these are the ones gardeners actually save and plant, ranked by real saves rather than catalog marketing. Each links to full care, bloom, and live price data.
The 12 most-saved Crocosmia varieties
Of 17 in the catalog — ordered by how many gardeners actually grow them.
#1 most savedLucifer Crocosmia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer'
#2 most savedMason's Crocosmia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Masonorum'
#3 most savedLucifer Crocosmia
Crocosmia lucifer
Montbretia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora
Walberton's Yellow Montbretia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Walberton Yellow'
Montbretia
Crocosmia x hybrida
Carmin Brilliant Montbretia
Crocosmia x hybrida 'Carmin Brilliant'
Montbretia
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'Prince of Orange'
Star of the East Crocosmia
Crocosmia x hybrida 'Star of the East'
Montbretia 'George Davidson'
Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora 'George Davidson'
Emily McKenzie Crocosmia Montbretia
Crocosmia x hybrida 'Emily Mckenzie'
Mason's Crocosmia
Crocosmia masoniorum
Browse all 17 Crocosmia varieties →
How to grow Crocosmia
What the Crocosmia varieties in our catalog actually agree on — drawn from the care records of the 17 most-grown of them, not from a generic template.
The Crocosmia year
- DivideFebruary, March and September100% of varieties
Divide overcrowded clumps every 3-4 years when flowering declines
- PlantMarch and April94% of varieties
Plant corms 3 inches deep in spring after danger of hard frost
- Spring CleanupFebruary76% of varieties
Cut back dead foliage to the ground before new growth appears
- Winter PrepOctober and November71% of varieties
Leave foliage until it dies back naturally after a hard frost
Do
- Water consistently during the growing season 🌱
- Water regularly during active growth 🌱
- Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring and summer
- Divide clumps every few years
- Mulch around plants to retain moisture and suppress weeds
Avoid
- Avoid overwatering to prevent bulb rot ❌
- Avoid overwatering to prevent rot ❌
- Refrain from cutting back foliage until it yellows naturally
- Avoid overwatering in winter ❌
What goes wrong with Crocosmia
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Aphids | Distorted leaves and sticky residue | Spray with insecticidal soap or neem oil |
| Spider mites | Fine webbing on foliage | Increase humidity and spray with miticide |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing and speckled leaves | Increase humidity and apply miticide |
| Slugs | Chewed leaves and flower damage | Use organic slug bait or handpick during damp evenings |
| Botrytis (Gray Mold) | Gray fuzzy mold on flowers and leaves | Improve air circulation and remove affected parts |
| Botrytis (gray mold) | Gray fuzzy mold on flowers and leaves | Improve air circulation and remove affected plant parts |
| Bulb rot | Soft, decayed bulbs | Ensure well-draining soil and avoid overwatering |
Making more Crocosmia
Corm division
- Wait until the plant is dormant in fall or early spring
- Carefully dig up the clump and gently separate offsets
- Replant divisions 4 inches deep in prepared soil
- Water thoroughly and mulch around new plants
Seed sowing
- Collect seeds after flowering has finished.
- Sow seeds in well-draining seed-starting mix in spring.
- Lightly cover with soil and keep moist.
- Maintain temperatures around 65-70°F for germination.
- Transplant seedlings once established.
Crocosmia questions
How many types of Crocosmia are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 17 distinct Crocosmia varieties. The most popular — ranked by 349 real gardener saves — are shown first above.
What zones does Crocosmia grow in?
Across its varieties, Crocosmia covers USDA Zones 5–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Crocosmia bloom?
Most Crocosmia varieties bloom in late summer, mid-summer, mid to late summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Crocosmia should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.
Keep exploring
Crocosmia shows up in
Design with Crocosmia in your own yard
Snap a photo of your space and see these varieties planted in it — sized correctly, matched to your zone, with care reminders included.
