Falling Stars Crocosmia aurea 'Golden Ballerina' (PBR)

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Crocosmia aurea 'Golden Ballerina' is a captivating plant that boasts a striking visual display. Known commonly as falling stars or montbretia, this cultivar exhibits vibrant golden-yellow flowers that have a unique tubular form, gracefully arching at their tips like elegant ballet dancers poised mid-dance. The blossoms are neatly arranged along one side of arching stems, creating a delightful sense of movement and rhythm in the garden. These stems arise from a clump of long, sword-like, green foliage that provides a lush backdrop to the vivid blooms. The leaves are pleated, adding texture to the plant's overall appearance. The contrast between the green foliage and golden blooms creates a spectacular summer display that can bring a warmth and brightness to any garden setting. The flowers are not only beautiful to look at but are also a magnet for pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds, adding to the dynamic scene wherever the plant is grown.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Falling Stars, Montbretia
- Common names
  Crocosmia aurea 'Golden Ballerina' (PBR)
Toxicity
- To humans
  Montbretia is generally considered non-toxic to humans. There is limited information regarding its ingestion, but it is not known to cause severe poisoning or any significant toxic effects when touched or handled. If any part of the plant is ingested and symptoms or discomfort occur, it is advised to seek medical attention.
- To pets
  Montbretia is also not known to be toxic to pets. It does not appear on the list of plants that are commonly known to be poisonous to animals. However, ingestion of any plant material may cause mild stomach upset in some pets such as vomiting or diarrhea. If a pet ingests Montbretia and shows signs of illness, it is recommended 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
- Easy to grow: Crocosmia 'Golden Ballerina' is generally an easy-care plant, requiring minimal maintenance once established.
- Attracts pollinators: It brings in beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, which are essential for pollination and the health of the garden.
- Drought-tolerant: Once established, it can withstand periods of low water, making it suitable for xeriscaping or drought-prone areas.
- Long blooming period: It provides a long-lasting display of vibrant flowers, often from midsummer until the first frost.
- Architectural interest: Its sword-shaped leaves and striking flower spikes add vertical interest to garden beds and borders.
- Cut flower potential: The blooms are excellent for creating floral arrangements, providing vivid color indoors.
- Rabbit resistant: It is not favored by rabbits, which makes it a good choice for gardens visited by these animals.
- Provides seasonal interest: The bright flowers and seed pods offer visual interest throughout the growing season.
- Easy to propagate: Crocosmia can be easily propagated by dividing corms, making it simple to expand your plantings or share with others.
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
- Falling Leaves Mulch: The deciduous nature of Crocosmia allows its leaves to be used as mulch, providing a natural soil conditioner as they decompose.
- Floral Photography: Crocosmia 'Golden Ballerina' is sought after by photographers for its vibrant flowers, adding a striking subject to floral and garden photography.
- Textile Dye: The fiery hues of Crocosmia 'Golden Ballerina' can be used to produce natural dyes for coloring fabrics.
- Insect Habitat: Crocosmia can offer shelter to beneficial garden insects, promoting biodiversity within garden ecosystems.
- Erosion Control: The robust root system of Crocosmia helps stabilize soil and control erosion on slopes and banks.
- Edging Plants: Crocosmia 'Golden Ballerina' can be used as a colorful, low-maintenance edging plant to define pathways and garden borders.
- Garden Art: The unique shape and color of Crocosmia 'Golden Ballerina' allow it to be integrated into garden designs as a form of living art.
- Theme Gardens: Utilize the striking appearance of Crocosmia 'Golden Ballerina' in themed gardens, such as a 'fire' or 'tropical' themed area.
- Water Garden Accent: Though not a water plant, Crocosmia can add a splash of color around water features, like ponds or fountains.
- Potpourri Ingredient: Dried Crocosmia flowers can be incorporated into potpourri mixes for their shape and color, providing a rustic aesthetic.

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 and Enthusiasm: The vivid, fiery hue of the Crocosmia, commonly known as the 'Falling Stars' or 'Montbretia', often symbolizes intense passion and enthusiasm, reflecting the plant's bold and bright appearance.
- Attraction and Magnetism: Due to its striking color and graceful shape, the Montbretia is seen as a symbol of attraction, often used to represent a magnetic and compelling charm.
- Ardent Love: The Montbretia's resemblance to flames can evoke feelings of burning desire and ardent love, making it an emblem of fervent emotions.
- Vitality and Energy: The hearty growth and resilient nature of Montbretia convey a message of vitality and sustained energy, underscoring its representation of an invigorating presence.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to early summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Montbretia 'Golden Ballerina' should be watered deeply to encourage root development, but only when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. During active growth in spring and summer, this may translate to watering once a week, with approximately one to two gallons per plant, depending on climate and soil drainage. In hot, dry periods, more frequent watering may be necessary. During dormancy in winter, reduce watering significantly, ensuring the soil does not remain waterlogged to prevent bulb rot. Always avoid overhead watering to minimize the risk of fungal diseases.
Light
The Montbretia 'Golden Ballerina' thrives in full sun to partial shade. A location that provides at least six hours of direct sunlight is ideal, though some afternoon shade can be beneficial in extremely hot climates. Avoid deeply shaded spots, as insufficient light can lead to poor blooming and weak foliage.
Temperature
Montbretia 'Golden Ballerina' prefers moderate temperatures and is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 9, tolerating temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Ideally, daytime temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit promote healthy growth. Protect the bulbs from freezing by mulching in the fall if temperatures drop below the hardiness range.
Pruning
Prune Montbretia 'Golden Ballerina' primarily to remove spent flower stalks and encourage reblooming. Regular deadheading of faded flowers can be done throughout the blooming season. After the first frost in fall, cut back the foliage to a few inches above the ground. Pruning is typically needed once the blooming has ceased or the foliage has died back.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The best soil mix for growing Montbretia 'Golden Ballerina' is well-draining, enriched with organic matter, such as compost or peat moss, to retain some moisture without becoming waterlogged. A soil pH of slightly acidic to neutral, around 6 to 7, is ideal for this plant. Adding perlite or coarse sand can improve drainage.
Repotting
Montbretia 'Golden Ballerina' should be repotted every 2-3 years to ensure they have enough room to grow and to replenish the soil nutrients. They are generally repotted in the spring before the growing season begins.
Humidity & Misting
Montbretia 'Golden Ballerina' thrives in average to high humidity conditions. While they are tolerant of a range of humidity levels, they do best with at least 40% relative humidity. They typically do not require additional humidity in outdoor garden settings.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright indirect light and good airflow for Montbretia indoors.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sun or part shade; enrich soil with compost; water regularly.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
Crocosmia 'Golden Ballerina', commonly known as falling stars or montbretia, begins its life cycle when corms (bulb-like structures) are planted in the ground during late winter to early spring. These corms then germinate, sending up shoots that develop into long, sword-shaped leaves. As the plant matures, it produces tall flowering spikes in mid to late summer, adorned with vibrant, trumpet-shaped flowers that are usually bright orange or yellow. Throughout its blooming period, the flowers are pollinated by insects, particularly hummingbirds and bees, which facilitates the production of seeds. Once the flowering stage concludes, the plant enters a period of senescence in the fall; the foliage dies back, and the plant goes dormant over winter, with the corms resting underground. The next spring, the cycle begins anew with the corms generating fresh growth, repeating this annual cycle of growth, flowering, and dormancy.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to early summer
- Crocosmia aurea 'Golden Ballerina', commonly known as falling stars or montbretia, is typically propagated by dividing its corms. The best time to do this is in spring after the frost has passed or in the early fall before the ground gets too cold. To propagate, carefully dig up clusters of corms and gently pull them apart, making sure each division has at least one growing point. Replant the divisions immediately, placing them about 4 inches (10 centimeters) deep and spaced 6 inches (15 centimeters) apart to give them room to grow. The corms should be planted in well-draining soil and watered thoroughly to initiate growth. This method of propagation is popular for its simplicity and effectiveness, allowing gardeners to quickly multiply their collection of montbretia.