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BulbsHerbaceous PerennialSynonym

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Fire King'

montbretia 'Fire King' Krelage

A bulbous perennial with upright, lance-shaped green leaves and arching stems of of tubular dark-orange flowers that turn red as they mature. Flowers appear from summer until autumn

Synonyms

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Fire King'

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Crocosmia are deciduous cormous perennials with erect, sword-shaped leaves and branched spikes of showy, funnel-shaped flowers in summer
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant 8-10cm deep in spring, in fertile, humus-rich, moist but well-drained and preferably sandy soil in full sun or partial shade; if clumps become congested, divide them in early spring. May be a nuisance in some gardens if not managed well

Propagation

Propagate by division of established clumps in spring just before new growth starts

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required, except the removal of dead leaves and flower stems before new growth starts in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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