How to Plant Crocosmia

Crocosmia is an exotic relative of the common garden iris. This tropical flower produces tall flower stalks that feature brightly colored flowers along one side of the stalk. Crocosmia is disease and pest resistant and it also attracts both hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden bed. The flowers bloom in late summer and fall, adding color to the bed when other plants are winding down. Crocosmia grow from bulb-like structures called corms, which are planted in the garden once spring frost danger is past.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

things you’ll need:

• Compost
• Corms
• Trowel
• Mulch

1. Spread 2 or 3 inches of mature compost over a full-sun garden bed. Work the compost into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil, where it aids drainage and improves the soil quality.
2. Dig 5-inch deep planting holes with a trowel, spacing the holes 6 to 8 inches apart. Set a single corm in each planting hole then fill in on top the corm with soil. Washington State University Extension advises grouping 12 or more corms together for the most striking effect.
3. Water the bed immediately after planting, moistening the top 6 inches of soil. Continue to water once a week, maintaining the 6 inches of moisture in the garden bed.
4. Apply a 2-inch layer of bark mulch on top the soil after planting. The mulch helps maintain the moisture in the soil while preventing weed growth until the crocosmia become established.

Tips & Warnings

• Crocosmia grows well in USDA gardening zones 6 through 10. It is frost tolerant but covering the bed with a 4-inch layer of straw in fall helps protect it from winter damage in colder regions.

• Crocosmia may not bloom until the second year after planting.

• Some varieties of crocosmia are invasive. Plant only named cultivars as they are less likely to become invasive.