Crocosmia x Crocosmiiflora is known as the common Montbretia and was bred by crossing the 2 species C. potsii and C. aurea. The orange shaded flowers are borne on stems just above the strappy sword-like leaves. Montbretia is free flowering from early August until October and looks excellent grown along with Phlox.

In all the years we have been gardening this is the first season we have had Montbretia in the borders of our garden, it will definitely not be the last.

This is a plant known to be invasive and may put some people off, however, most of us can cope with splitting a herbaceous plant every two years or so. Crocosmia is found growing wild in South Africa, this one first of the hybrids was bred in France in 1879  and was named after a botanist Antoine Fran’s Ernest Conquebert de Monbret who accompanied Napoleon on his Egypt campaign in 1798

Hardiness – Fully hardy

Position – Full sun/Part shade

Height – 60cm