Montbretia Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze' is a perennial plant known for its vibrant and fiery hues. This plant features a clump-forming habit, with a lush base of long, sword-like, green foliage that serves as a backdrop to its most striking feature: the spectacular flowers. The blossoms present themselves in a sizzling scarlet-red color, with each individual flower flaunting a funnel-like shape. These vivid flowers are neatly arranged on gracefully arching stems, giving the impression of a spray of floral fireworks. The blooms have a slight recurved shape which adds to the dynamic appearance of the plant, making it a showstopper in any garden setting. As the plant matures through its blooming season, the intensity of the colors can be quite breathtaking, with the rich reds evoking the essence of a brilliant summer blaze. The contrast between the vibrant blooms and the verdant foliage creates a visual feast that can attract both the admiring eyes of garden visitors and various pollinators like hummingbirds. Additionally, when in bloom, Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze' exudes a certain tropical flair, although it is hardy in cooler climates. The plant's ability to produce such exotic-looking flowers while remaining resilient under various growing conditions has made it popular among garden enthusiasts. Despite not discussing its dimensions, it is notable that this plant can fit seamlessly into various garden designs, adding both color and textural contrast to the landscape.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Montbretia, Falling Stars, Coppertips
- Common names
  Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Montbretia (Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze') is generally not considered toxic to humans. There are no significant reports of poisoning or adverse reactions from ingesting this plant. However, as with any plant, individual sensitivities can vary, and it is always wise to avoid ingesting parts of ornamental plants due to potential unknowns and the risk of stomach upset or allergic reactions.
- To pets
  Montbretia (Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze') is not commonly listed as a toxic plant to pets. However, it's always prudent to prevent pets from eating ornamental plants as they might cause gastrointestinal upset or an allergic reaction in sensitive animals. If you suspect your pet has ingested a significant amount of the plant and is showing symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or unusual behavior, consult a veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Red
- Height
  2-3 feet (0.6-0.9 meters)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (0.3-0.6 meters)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  5-9
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts pollinators: Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze', also known as montbretia, is an excellent attractant for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, which are crucial for pollination and overall garden health.
- Easy to grow: Montbretia is known for being hardy and easy to cultivate, making it a good choice for both novice and experienced gardeners.
- Drought tolerance: Once established, Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze' has good drought tolerance, reducing the need for frequent watering.
- Striking appearance: With its vibrant red-orange flowers, montbretia provides a dramatic visual impact and can be used to create stunning displays in garden beds and borders.
- Cut flower use: The blooms of montbretia make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements, maintaining their color and form for an extended period.
- Low maintenance: Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze' generally requires minimal upkeep beyond the initial planting and occasional watering during dry spells.
- Deer resistance: Montbretia is not a preferred food source for deer, making it an ideal choice for gardens in areas with high deer populations.
- Long blooming period: Montbretia offers a long flowering season, often from midsummer into the fall, providing color and interest in the garden when many other plants have finished blooming.
- Multiplication: Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze' naturally multiplies over time, providing an increasing number of plants year after year without additional cost.
- Versatility: Montbretia's size and structure make it suitable for a variety of garden settings, including container gardens, mixed borders, and as accent plants.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze' can be used as a natural dye. The flowers and leaves may be boiled to extract pigment for fabric or paper dyeing.
- The erect structure of the plant provides support for weaker-stemmed plants that might need assistance staying upright in a garden.
- The dried seed pods of Crocosmia can be used in floral arrangements and crafts for their interesting shapes and textures.
- The plant can act as a seasonal privacy screen in gardens due to its dense growth habit and height when in full bloom.
- Crocosmia foliage can be used as a natural pest deterrent when planted around vegetable gardens because some pests dislike their scent.
- Leaves of the Crocosmia can be woven or braided together to create small handcrafts or decorative elements in garden art.
- When grown in large swathes, Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze' can be used for soil erosion control on slopes due to their spreading nature and robust root system.
- Flower photographers use the vivid blooms of Crocosmia as subjects to teach techniques for macro and nature photography.
- The plant can serve as a natural way to delineate spaces within a garden, acting as a living border or edge for pathways.
- Used in educational gardens, Crocosmia can help teach about plant growth patterns, pollination, and the life cycle of perennials.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Crocosmia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Crocosmia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Passion and Love: The fiery red or orange flowers of the Crocosmia, often referred to as 'Falling Stars' or 'Coppertips', are reminiscent of flames, symbolizing deep and intense passion, ardor, and a burning love.
- Vitality and Energy: Its vibrant, lively colors and the way they stand tall on their stems give the plant an energetic vibe, representing vitality and zest for life.
- Attracting Positive Attention: Due to their bright colors and distinctive appearance, Crocosmia serve as a symbol for grabbing attention, suggesting that they may attract positivity and interest in one's life.
- Overcoming Challenges: The hardy nature of this plant allows it to thrive in various conditions, symbolizing resilience and the ability to overcome adversity.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Montbretia 'Bressingham Blaze' should be watered deeply to ensure the roots receive adequate moisture, aiming for about 1 inch of water per week during the growing season. This can be adjusted based on weather conditions; less water may be needed during rainy periods and more during dry spells. It's best to water this plant in the morning to allow any excess moisture to evaporate through the day, reducing the risk of fungal diseases. During the dormant period in winter, reduce watering significantly, providing only enough to prevent the soil from completely drying out.
Light
Montbretia 'Bressingham Blaze' thrives in full sun to part shade conditions, meaning it should receive at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight a day. An ideal spot for this plant would be in an area that gets bright morning light, which is less intense than the afternoon sun. However, the plant can still perform well with some dappled afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates.
Temperature
Montbretia 'Bressingham Blaze' can tolerate a wide range of temperatures but prefers moderate to warm conditions. Ideally, they should be grown in temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. They can survive temperature dips down to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit but should be protected from hard frosts. In areas with very cold winters, it's crucial to provide a thick mulch layer to help insulate the rhizomes.
Pruning
Montbretia 'Bressingham Blaze' requires pruning to remove spent flower stems and to tidy up the plant, which encourages better growth and flowering the following season. Prune the plant back to ground level after the foliage has died back in late fall or early winter. Deadheading, or the removal of old flowers during the blooming season, can also promote more blooms.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for Montbretia is well-draining soil with added organic matter, such as compost or peat, to retain some moisture. Ideally, the soil should be acidic to neutral with a pH ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
Montbretia generally does not need frequent repotting and can be done every 3-4 years or when it is evident that the corms have overcrowded the pot.
Humidity & Misting
Montbretia tolerates a range of humidity levels and does not require high humidity to thrive, making typical outdoor conditions suitable.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light; moderate water; protect from cold drafts.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun to partial shade; enrich soil with compost.
- Hardiness zone
  6-9 USDA
Life cycle
Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze', commonly known as Montbretia, begins its life cycle as a corm planted in spring after the last frost. The corms quickly sprout into strap-shaped green leaves and eventually produce arching stems adorned with fiery orange to red funnel-shaped flowers by midsummer. After blooming, the flowers give way to seed capsules, although propagation is more commonly achieved through division of the corms. As a perennial, Montbretia dies back to the ground at the onset of colder temperatures in autumn. Through winter, the corms lie dormant underground, with the next generation of growth initiated by the warming soils of the following spring. Either naturally via corm offsets or through human cultivation by dividing and replanting corms, Montbretia spreads and continues its life cycle for subsequent years.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Crocosmia 'Bressingham Blaze', commonly known as Montbretia, is most effectively propagated through corm division after the plant has finished flowering and the foliage has died back, typically in late autumn. To propagate, carefully dig up the clump of corms and use your hands to tease them apart, separating the new corms that have developed at the base of the previous year's plants. These should be a good size and have visible signs of developing shoots. Once separated, corms can be replanted immediately if the ground is not frozen or stored in a cool, dry place over winter to be planted in the spring. When planting, corms should be placed about 4 inches (10 cm) deep and spaced approximately 6 inches (15 cm) apart in well-draining soil, with the pointed end facing up.