Croscomia

[sixtiesfan]

Can anyone tell me please if I have to leave the dead flowers on my plants or do I have to cut them off. As next year I am wanting to replant them into another part of the garden as they have outgrown where they are at present growing. Also can anyone tell me if You can buy any other colours of these beautiful plants in any other colours other than orange red and yellow as I was told it can be bought in pink but to date I have not been lucky enough to find one.

[Ann]

I grow crocosmias - I have only grown these- plain orange (the wild montbretia type) Orange/brown "Emily Mackenzie" and bright red "Lucifer" but if you look on a gardening site you may see more varieties, but think these are the only shades. You may be thinking of the pink kaffir lilies which are similar looking.

[sandyRoe]

Do you plant them as bulbs?

[slinkycat]

You can plant them as bulbs Sandy, but if you know anyone who has one they will probably be more than happy to dig a section up for you as they spread quite a lot.
I've not seen pink ones either.

[Ann]

At this time of year, you can buy small pots of them flowering or just finished flowering. These would get better results than just planting dry bulbs but I have done so, and I did get some from the packet.

[sandyRoe]

I'll go to the garden centre today and see if they have any. The Lucifer ones would brighten up a corner if they flower next year.

[rowanwitch]

there is a related flower that is pink its a dwarf clump forming gladiolus...

[murraymints]

you can cut back dead flowers..but I would lift split and divide in the Spring time..not now...there are hundreds of different varieties of crocosmia,al colours all sizes and differing blooms...any good gardening book will list them

[rowanwitch]

I'd lift and divide now while the soil is warm cut them back by about 2/3 and give them some bonemeal in the soil

[carlton23]

About 5 years ago whilst on holiday in Cornwall I saw them everywhere along country road sides, so just before coming home I pulled some up and replanted when home, and now I wished I hadn`t as they have spread where I cant get at them.

[rowanwitch]

complete weed once you have them but they are a great cut flower as well as filling areas where other things struggle

[sixtiesfan]

Croscomia
Many thanks to everyone who sent me a reply to my questions your help is very much appreicated.

[madmaggot]

I recommend that you plant these in an old tin bath or similar (holes in the bottom for drainage) then sink it into the ground as they grow like stink and are thugs which will choke everything else. Although I grant that they are very pretty.