Crocosemia or Montbretia (Crocosemia Aurea x)


Crocosemia, also known as copper tips or falling stars, are beautiful flowering plants that are worth a spot in your garden.  These flaming African beauties can be perennial in zones 6 and higher when planted in the garden but in colder zones they can be planted in pots or the corms can be dug and stored over winter like glad corms.

Crocosemia leaves look a lot like gladiolus leaves, they are narrow and sword like.  Plants grow about 2 feet high, with flower spikes adding to the height. The plants grow from corms, which form interesting chains of corm upon corm with the oldest and largest on the bottom.  These corms can be carefully separated to start new plants.

The flowers of crocosemia are a long tubular shape that flares open into 6 turned back petals. They are produced on arched spikes.  Generally the flowers are a flaming orange red, but softer oranges and yellows do exist. There are actually hundreds of cultivars.  I find they have a longer bloom period than gladiolus, beginning in mid-summer here in zone 5 and proceeding to frost. In zone 7 and above they may begin bloom in May or June.  Hummingbirds are attracted to the flowers. The flowers can be used as cut flowers similar to glads.

Crocosemia are generally purchased as corms and planted in the spring after danger of frost has passed.  In zones 6 and higher you can plant the corms of crocosemia directly in the ground.  If you live in zone 5 or below you’ll need to dig the corms in the fall before the ground freezes and store them inside for the winter.  Or you can do as I do and plant them in pots and bring the whole pot inside to store after plants go dormant.  I find this results in better storage conditions and it’s easier than finding the corms in the ground.

Outside plant crocosemia 3-4 inches deep and 6 inches apart.  I think they look best in clumps rather than in straight lines or scattered widely in beds.  If you are planting in containers plant 6 corms in a 10-12 inch pot.  Crocosemia prefers full sun in northern areas but will bloom in partial shade in the south.  They like a light, well- drained soil and even, consistent watering.

Crocosemia have few insect or disease problems and are not considered prime deer or rabbit food.   Cut bloom spikes off the plants after all the flowers have opened unless you want seed pods to form.  Do not cut the foliage down until it has yellowed and died back.  In zones 7 and higher crocosemia can spread into large clumps and in more tropical areas it could become invasive.

Crocosemia can be reproduced from seeds if flowers are pollinated and form seed pods. When pods are brown and look ripe, gather the seeds and plant immediately.   Plant 2-3 seeds in a pot; you want the pot to be 4 inches or more so that they can be left there without disturbance for a while.  The pots will need to be inside through the first winter if you live in zone 6 or lower.   The seedlings will probably germinate in a few weeks. When a large healthy clump has formed the clump can be transplanted into the ground or into a bigger pot.  It can take 2 years for the plants to bloom. 

Medicinal, edible and other uses of crocosemia

I can find little information on the toxicity or edibility of crocosemia.  The flowers are crushed and used as a yellow dye in foods in Africa so they can’t be too toxic.  The dried flowers are said to smell like saffron when placed in boiling water and can be used as a substitute for saffron.

In Africa a tea is made from sap of crocosemia leaves to treat malaria.  The plant is also used to treat diarrhea.


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