Montbretia Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Fire Jumper'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Crocosmia 'Fire Jumper' is a striking perennial known for its vibrant and fiery-hued flowers. This plant is adorned with arching stems that bear a plethora of blooms, providing a bold visual spectacle. The flowers exhibit a rich orange to red color palette, often with a gradient or ombre effect, transitioning from a deeper, almost crimson base to a brighter, sun-kissed tip. Each flower is shaped like a small, delicate funnel, with flared edges that give the blossoms an airy and somewhat whimsical appearance. The petals may display a pleasing symmetry as they extend outward from a central tube. Encircling these blooms are lance-shaped, fresh green leaves that form dense clumps, creating an attractive contrast with the intense colors of the flowers. The foliage can be both erect and gracefully arching, lending a lush, textural backdrop to the fiery flowers that dance above.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Montbretia, Coppertips, Falling Stars
- Common names
  Montbretia 'Fire Jumper', Tritonia crocosmiflora 'Fire Jumper'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  Montbretia is not commonly listed as a toxic plant to humans. There are no specific well-documented symptoms of poisoning from Montbretia in humans, as it is generally not considered to be a significant threat. However, as with any plant, individual allergies or sensitivities could potentially cause mild discomfort or reactions.
- To pets
  Montbretia is also not commonly listed as toxic to pets. It is generally not considered to be poisonous to animals such as dogs and cats. However, ingestion of any plant material may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some pets due to the fiber content or sensitivity, which could result in symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhea. If you suspect your pet has ingested a large amount of this or any unfamiliar plant, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Orange
- Height
  2-3 feet (60-90 cm)
- Spread
  1-2 feet (30-60 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  5-9
- Native area
  South Africa

Benefits

General Benefits
- Attracts Pollinators: The bright, tubular flowers of Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' are excellent at attracting hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, which are essential for pollination.
- Vibrant Color: Its fiery red to orange flowers add a vivid splash of color to gardens, which can enhance the visual appeal of any landscape.
- Easy to Grow: Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' is relatively low maintenance and can thrive in a variety of soil types and climatic conditions, making it an easy choice for gardeners of all experience levels.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, this plant has good drought tolerance, reducing the need for frequent watering and making it suitable for xeriscaping.
- Long Blooming: It offers a long blooming period, typically from midsummer to early fall, providing a prolonged display of color in the garden.
- Cut Flowers: The long stems and colorful blooms make Montbretia excellent for cutting and using in floral arrangements.
- Deer Resistant: It is generally resistant to deer, which can help to prevent damage to the garden from grazing animals.
- Perennial Growth: As a perennial, Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' comes back year after year, so gardeners can enjoy its presence without the need to replant annually.
- Soil Erosion Control: The plant's root system can help stabilize soil and prevent erosion in sloped gardens or areas prone to runoff.
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
- Crafting natural dyes: The vibrant flowers of Montbretia can be used to create natural dyes for textiles, offering a range of warm hues.
- Photography subjects: Montbretia's striking flowers can serve as excellent subjects for macro and nature photography, inspiring artists and hobbyists alike.
- Floral art: Montbretia can be used in floral arrangements and installations, particularly for contemporary designs given their unique shape and vivid color.
- Educational tool: Montbretia can be utilized in educational settings to teach botany and plant life cycles due to its interesting growth habits and reproduction.
- Theme gardens: Montbretia can be grown in theme gardens that focus on 'fire' or 'hot' themes, thanks to its fiery red flowers.
- Culinary garnish: While not commonly used for consumption, Montbretia blooms can be used as an exotic garnish for special dishes after ensuring they are free of pesticides.
- Bookmark creation: Dried Montbretia flowers can be laminated or pressed to create unique, natural bookmarks for book lovers.
- Eco-friendly confetti: Dried petals of Montbretia can serve as biodegradable confetti for outdoor celebrations, adding a splash of color without harming the environment.
- Garden photography workshops: Montbretia provides an excellent opportunity for garden centers to host photography workshops, drawing in enthusiasts eager to capture its beauty.
- Symbolism in literature: Due to their fiery appearance, Montbretia flowers can be used symbolically in literature and poetry to represent passion and vibrancy.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Montbretia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Montbretia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Passion: The vibrant red and orange colors of Montbretia flowers often symbolize strong emotions and ardor, mirroring the heat and intensity of fire.
- Energy: Montbretia's fiery hues also represent dynamic energy and action, making it a symbol of an enthusiastic spirit.
- Transformation: The bold transformation of the plant from a small bulb to a striking floral display can symbolize change and personal growth.
- Warmth: As the colors of the flower suggest warmth, Montbretia can symbolize a friendly and inviting personality or atmosphere.
- Endurance: Being a hardy and resilient plant, Montbretia is often associated with the ability to endure and persevere through challenges.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Crocosmia 'Fire Jumper', commonly known as montbretia, should be watered deeply to ensure that the water reaches the roots, approximately once a week during its growing season. During hot, dry spells, increase watering to twice a week. Allow the top two inches of soil to dry out between waterings to prevent overwatering. Typically, a montbretia will need about 1 gallon of water per plant for each watering session. Reduce watering in the fall as the plant goes dormant, and during the winter, water sparingly, only if you notice the soil is completely dry.
Light
Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' thrives in full sun to partial shade. The best spot for this plant would be an area that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight daily. If possible, place it where it can enjoy the morning sun and partial afternoon shade to protect it from the most intense rays of the day.
Temperature
Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' prefers temperate conditions and performs best in temperatures ranging from 60°F to 75°F. They can survive minimum temperatures down to around 20°F but should be protected from frost. The plant is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, with mulching recommended in the colder zones to help it survive winter conditions.
Pruning
Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' should be pruned to remove spent flower stems and to maintain the plant's shape. Prune the foliage only after it has died back, typically in late fall or early winter. This helps the plant to conserve energy for the next growing season. Pruning is also an opportunity to divide the bulbs if the clumps become too dense, which is best done every 3 to 4 years.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' thrives in well-draining, loamy soil enriched with organic matter. A pH between 6.0 and 7.0 is optimal. A mix of two parts garden soil, one part peat or compost, and one part sharp sand or perlite can create suitable conditions for healthy growth.
Repotting
Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' should be repotted every 2-3 years to refresh the soil and accommodate growth. It's best to repot in the spring before new growth begins.
Humidity & Misting
Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' prefers moderate humidity levels but is tolerant of a wide range. It does not require any special humidity considerations as long as soil moisture is maintained appropriately.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Place Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' in bright, indirect light and ensure good airflow.
- Outdoor
  Plant Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' in full sun to partial shade, in well-drained soil.
- Hardiness zone
  Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' suits zones 5-9 USDA.
Life cycle
Montbretia 'Fire Jumper' starts as a bulb-like structure called a corm, which germinates in late winter or early spring. Emerging shoots push through the soil, developing into sword-shaped leaves, and the stems elongate to prepare for flowering. By mid to late summer, the plant produces its distinctive fiery orange to red blooms, which are arranged on arched stems in a one-sided fashion. After pollination, typically by hummingbirds and bees, the flowers mature into seed capsules while the foliage begins to die back as the plant enters dormancy. The corms survive through the winter underground, storing energy for the next growing season. Each year, the plant can produce new corms alongside the original, slowly forming a clumping colony.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Fire Jumper', commonly known as Montbretia 'Fire Jumper', is typically propagated by dividing the corms. This is most effectively done in the spring, just before growth begins. You would carefully dig up the clump of corms and gently separate them by hand, ensuring each division has at least one growing point. The divisions should then be replanted at a depth of about 3 to 5 inches (roughly 7.5 to 12.7 centimeters) and spaced approximately 6 to 8 inches (about 15 to 20 centimeters) apart to give them enough room to grow. Water the transplanted corms well, and they should establish themselves quickly, continuing to spread and providing new plants for future growth or sharing with fellow gardeners.