Montbretia Crocosmia 'Mistral'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

Crocosmia 'Mistral' is known for its showy and vibrant flowers that capture one's attention with their fiery hues. The blossoms of this plant are typically vibrant red or orange, presenting a bold color palette that is impressive in many garden settings. The flowers are trumpet-shaped and bloom in a branched inflorescence that elegantly arches above the foliage. These blooms are arranged in a descending pattern along the stems, creating an eye-catching cascade of color. The leaves of Crocosmia 'Mistral' are sword-shaped and grow in a dense clump, adding to the lush appearance of the plant. They are a rich green color, which serves as a perfect backdrop to highlight the intensely colored flowers. The overall look of Crocosmia 'Mistral' is one of drama and exotic flair, making it a desirable addition to gardens that seek a touch of the tropics or a focal point that draws the eye with its warm, inviting colors.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Montbretia, Coppertips, Falling Stars
- Common names
  Crocosmia 'Mistral'
Toxicity
- To humans
  Montbretia, which Crocosmia 'Mistral' belongs to, is generally not considered toxic to humans. Ingesting parts of the plant typically does not result in serious poisoning. However, as with many plants not intended for consumption, if large quantities are ingested, it could potentially cause mild stomach upset or discomfort. It's always best to avoid ingesting parts of ornamental plants due to their unpredictability and potential for non-toxic reactions.
- To pets
  Montbretia is not commonly listed as toxic to pets, including dogs and cats. However, individual pets may have different sensitivities, and ingestion could possibly lead to mild gastrointestinal upset, such as vomiting or diarrhea. It's recommended to prevent pets from chewing on this plant and to monitor them for any signs of distress if they do ingest parts of it. If any concerning symptoms occur, contacting a veterinarian would be advisable.
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 Wildlife: Crocosmia 'Mistral' is known to attract pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds, which are beneficial for the pollination of plants and the overall health of gardens.
- Vibrant Colors: It produces vividly colored flowers, usually in shades of red, orange, or yellow, that can brighten up landscapes and add visual appeal to garden settings.
- Long Blooming Season: This plant typically has a long flowering period through summer, providing gardeners with extended periods of visual interest.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, Crocosmia 'Mistral' can be quite drought-tolerant, making it a suitable choice for gardens in drier climates or for water-wise gardening practices.
- Easy to Grow: It is generally easy to cultivate and can thrive in a range of soil conditions, which is ideal for both novice and experienced gardeners.
- Architectural Form: The sword-like foliage and arching flower stems of Crocosmia 'Mistral' can add structure and form to garden beds or borders.
- Good for Cut Flowers: The flowers of Crocosmia 'Mistral' make excellent cut flowers, offering both longevity and striking color in floral arrangements.
- Low Maintenance: The plant requires minimal care once established, thus reducing the need for constant upkeep.
- Resistant to Pests: Crocosmia 'Mistral' is generally resistant to many pests, which helps minimize the need for chemical treatments and supports a healthier garden environment.
- Works in Various Landscapes: It can be used in a variety of landscape settings, including borders, container gardens, 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 'Mistral' can be used as a natural dye for fabrics, providing a range of colors from yellow to orange hues depending on the part of the plant used.
- The robust stalks of the plant can be incorporated into homemade crafts, such as creating supports for other delicate flowers in arrangements.
- Dried crocosmia pods can serve as an interesting addition to potpourri mixtures, adding a unique shape and texture.
- The seeds can be used for bird feed, especially in the winter months when food is scarce for wildlife.
- Crocosmia 'Mistral' might be utilized in educational settings, such as schools or botanical gardens, to demonstrate plant growth and pollination to students.
- The flowers can be pressed and used in floral art or to decorate note cards and bookmarks, providing a beautiful and natural embellishment.
- Photographers and artists may use crocosmia as a subject for their works due to its vivid colors and striking form.
- It can be used as a natural fencing material when grown in dense patches, providing both privacy and attraction for pollinators.
- When planted in large swathes, crocosmia can prevent soil erosion on slopes due to its root system holding the earth together.
- By creating a crocosmia maze or garden feature, landscape designers can add interactive visual interest to gardens and parks.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The plant Crocosmia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The plant Crocosmia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Passion and Love: Crocosmia, commonly known as Montbretia, often symbolizes strong feelings of love and passion due to its fiery-red flowers that evoke the intensity of emotions.
- Warmth and Sunshine: The bright, warm colors of the Montbretia's flowers are reminiscent of sunlight and summer, making them a symbol of joy, warmth, and positive energy.
- Endurance and Longevity: Montbretia plants are known for their hardiness and long blooming period, which symbolizes endurance and the ability to thrive in challenging conditions.

💧

Every 2-3 days

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-4 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring to Summer

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
Montbretia should be watered deeply once a week, ensuring that the soil is moist but not soggy. During the growing season, particularly in dry spells, you may need to water more frequently, possibly up to two to three times a week. Generally, one to two gallons per week per plant should be sufficient, but this can vary depending on climate conditions and soil type. It's important to reduce watering in the dormant season to prevent bulb rot.
Light
Montbretia thrives best in full sun where it can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. The ideal spot for planting Montbretia is in a garden area that receives ample sunshine throughout the day, preferably morning sun with some light afternoon shade in particularly hot climates.
Temperature
Montbretia prefers temperate climates and can tolerate a range of temperatures, but it flourishes at temperatures between 60°F and 75°F. While it can survive minimum temperatures down to approximately 20°F, it's important to provide a thick mulch cover to protect the bulbs in winter. The maximum temperature Montbretia can withstand without stress typically hovers around 90°F.
Pruning
Montbretia benefits from pruning to remove spent flower stems and old foliage; this encourages better airflow and reduces the risk of disease. Pruning should be carried out after flowering, typically in late summer or early fall. Cut back the stems to ground level after they have died back naturally, which usually happens after the first frost.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Crocosmia, commonly known as Montbretia, thrives best in a soil mix that is well-draining and rich in organic matter. A combination of two parts loam, one part well-rotted compost or peat, and one part sharp sand or perlite is ideal for this plant. The soil pH for Montbretia should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
Repotting
Montbretia, should be repotted every 2 to 3 years, in the spring before new growth starts. The corms can be divided at this time if the clusters are becoming crowded, to encourage more vigorous growth and flowering.
Humidity & Misting
Montbretia prefers moderate to high humidity levels but is quite adaptable and can tolerate the lower humidity levels typically found in a garden setting. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal diseases.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Ensure bright light, keep soil moist, and provide support as Montbretia grows.
- Outdoor
  Plant in well-draining soil, full sun to partial shade, and water regularly.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
Crocosmia 'Mistral', commonly known as Montbretia, begins its life cycle as a corm, a bulb-like storage organ, which is planted in the ground during late winter or early spring. After planting, roots and shoots emerge from the corm as the soil warms, and strap-shaped leaves start to grow. In summer, the plant produces flowering stems with vibrant tubular flowers that are orange to red, attracting pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds. Once flowering is complete, the plant sets seed, but more commonly, gardeners propagate Montbretia by dividing the corms after the foliage dies back in the fall. The plant enters dormancy during the cold winter months. In the subsequent spring, the cycle begins anew with new corms or the divided corms sprouting to start the next generation of growth.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring to Summer
- Crocosmia 'Mistral', commonly known as Montbretia, is typically propagated through division of its corms. The best time to propagate is in spring, just before the growing season starts. To do this, carefully dig up the clumps of corms after the foliage has died back or before new growth begins. Gently separate the corms by hand, ensuring that each section has at least one growth point. Replant the corm divisions immediately at the same depth they were originally growing, spacing them about 6 inches (15 centimeters) apart to allow room for growth. Water the newly planted corms thoroughly to settle the soil around them and begin their growth cycle. This method of vegetative propagation ensures the new plants will be true to the parent Crocosmia 'Mistral'.