Crocosmia Cultivation

Crocosmia is a species of flower that is native to South Africa. They grow from bulb-like "corms." In spite of the warmth of its native home, crocosmia corms are surprisingly cold hardy, able to grow and overwinter to zones 5 and 6. The flowers are showy and red or orange in color and greatly resemble lilies or gladiolus.

Soil

• Crocosmia corms like deep, rich, well draining soil. They will rot in waterlogged locations. No matter what your soil type you should amend it with at least 2 to 3 inches of compost. The soil should be loose at planting time. A few inches of mulch will keep the soil cool and moist in the summer. Wood chips, grass clippings or well-rotted manure will do the job admirably.

Water

• Water the crocosmia corms thoroughly after planting. These plants are actually rather drought tolerant, but should be watered regularly while they are flowering.

Planting

• Plant corms 3 to 4 inches deep and 8 to 10 inches apart. The pointy end of the corm faces up. Water generously, soaking the soil. TheAfricanGarden.com recommends planting corms in colonies—a dozen or more to a group, each 8 to 10 inches apart—to give the corms a better chance at surviving cold winters. Lay 2 to 3 inches of mulch after top growth has appeared. Roots and top growth should form in a few weeks.

Winter Care

• Cover the flower bed with 4 to 6 inches of mulch in areas where winters are cold. This will keep them from suffering cold damage over the winter. If you are worried they may not be able to overwinter in the ground without damage—even with mulch—then dig them up in the fall after the foliage has yellowed. Cut off the dead leaves, right down to the ground, and gently lift the corms. Let them dry for several days and store them someplace between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit until the following spring.

Division

• Divide the corms every three to four years to encourage the bulbs to keep flowering. Corms that are too shallow or too close together for too long will only flower for a few years, after which they produce only foliage.