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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