Montbretia Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Voyager'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Non-toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The Crocosmia 'Voyager' is a striking perennial known for its vibrant blooms and lush foliage. This plant produces arching stems tipped with a captivating sequence of flowers. Each blossom is shaped like a funnel and exhibits a vivid golden-yellow hue that can add a bright splash of color to any garden space. The flower buds are neatly lined up along the stems, opening sequentially from the base upwards, creating a prolonged display of attractiveness throughout its blooming period. The leaves of the Crocosmia 'Voyager' are sword-like, emanating from the base in a dense clump. They are a rich green color, which provides a lush backdrop for the bold flowers. Overall, the plant's foliage forms an elegant, erect, and somewhat fan-shaped structure that contrasts beautifully with the softer form of the arching flower stems. The striking combination of golden-yellow flowers and green foliage makes Crocosmia 'Voyager' a visually appealing addition to garden settings, often attracting pollinators such as hummingbirds and butterflies. Its blossoms are also commonly used in cut-flower arrangements, where they provide a durable and eye-catching feature. This Crocosmia cultivar is particularly appreciated for its ornamental value and the vibrancy it brings to the landscape.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Iridaceae
- Synonyms
  Montbretia, Coppertips, Falling Stars
- Common names
  Montbretia Voyager
Toxicity
- To humans
  Montbretia (Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Voyager') is not widely known to be toxic to humans. However, as with many plants, it may cause mild stomach upset if ingested. There are no specific symptoms of poisoning attributed to Montbretia since it is generally considered non-toxic to humans.
- To pets
  Montbretia is also not widely known to be toxic to pets, and there is limited specific information about its effects on animals. It is always best to prevent pets from ingesting plants as even non-toxic plants can cause mild gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting or diarrhea if ingested in large amounts. If a pet is suspected to have ingested a significant quantity of Montbretia and is showing signs of illness, it is recommended to consult a veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Yellow
- 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: The vibrant flowers of Montbretia attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to the garden.
- Easy to Grow: Montbretia is known for being low-maintenance and easy to cultivate in a range of garden soils.
- Long Blooming Period: It provides a long season of color with its blooms lasting from mid-summer to fall.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, Montbretia is relatively drought-resistant, making it suitable for xeriscaping.
- Cut Flower Use: The striking blooms make excellent cut flowers for arrangements and bouquets.
- Garden Aesthetics: Montbretia adds a touch of dramatic flair to garden beds and borders with its arching stems and bright flowers.
- Wildlife Friendly: It can contribute to supporting local wildlife by providing nectar for insects.
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
- Photography: Montbretia 'Voyager' makes an excellent subject for macro and nature photographers due to its vibrant orange flowers and appealing structure.
- Fabric Dye: The flowers and leaves of Montbretia may be used to create natural dyes for fabrics, rendering subtle hues to textiles.
- Crafts: Dried Montbretia flowers can be incorporated into craft projects such as floral arrangements, wreaths, and potpourri mixes for their color and form.
- Education: Montbretia 'Voyager' serves as an educational tool in horticultural programs, where students learn about plant hybridization and garden design.
- Pollinator Garden: Planting Montbretia helps support pollinators like bees and hummingbirds, contributing to the health of your garden ecosystem.
- Artistic Inspiration: Artists may use Montbretia flowers as live models or an inspiration for paintings, drawings, and other art forms.
- Wedding Decor: The bright, fiery blooms of Montbretia can add a touch of color and uniqueness to wedding bouquets, centerpieces, and decorations.
- Culinary Garnish: Although not a traditional edible flower, Montbretia petals can be used as a vibrant, decorative garnish for salads and desserts (it is essential to ensure they are free from pesticides and other chemicals).
- Garden Border Accents: Montbretia can be used to create striking borders or garden bed edges, complementing foliage plants with its tall, arching stems and blossoms.
- Eco-friendly Confetti: Dried and crumbled Montbretia petals can serve as a beautiful and biodegradable option for confetti at celebratory events.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
Montbretia is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
Montbretia is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Passion and Love: With its vibrant red or orange flowers, Crocosmia, commonly known as montbretia, is often associated with feelings of passion and love, reflecting the fiery colors of its blooms.
- Independence: Montbretia’s ability to grow and spread quickly demonstrates a symbolic meaning of independence and self-sufficiency.
- Adventure and Boldness: The exotic appearance and origin of montbretia suggest a sense of adventure and boldness—a trait often associated with explorers and individuals willing to venture into the unknown.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 2-3 years

Repotting

🌱️

Late Spring-Early Summer

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
Montbretia 'Voyager' should be watered deeply whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to touch, usually once a week during the growing season. In the absence of rain, provide the plant with approximately one gallon of water per week to ensure that moisture reaches the roots. During the dormant period in winter, reduce watering significantly to prevent bulb rot, only providing water if the soil is completely dry for an extended period. Adjust the amount based on temperature and rainfall, as excess water can be detrimental to the bulbs.
Light
Montbretia 'Voyager' thrives in full sun to partial shade. The best spot for these plants is a location where they can receive at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight each day. They can tolerate some light afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates, but too much shade will result in fewer blooms.
Temperature
Montbretia 'Voyager' prefers temperatures between 60°F and 90°F for optimal growth. They can withstand temperatures as low as 20°F once established but may need mulch for protection during colder winters. The ideal temperature range encourages robust growth and flowering.
Pruning
Montbretia 'Voyager' should be pruned to remove spent flower stalks and tidy the plant in late summer or early fall after blooming. Pruning encourages future blooms and maintains plant health by removing potentially diseased or dead foliage. Cut back foliage to ground level during late fall cleanup before winter dormancy.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Crocosmia, commonly known as montbretia, thrives in a well-draining soil mix with plenty of organic matter such as compost or well-rotted manure. A soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 is ideal for healthy growth and flowering. Incorporate perlite or coarse sand to improve drainage and prevent waterlogging, which montbretia dislikes.
Repotting
Montbretia 'Voyager' typically does not need frequent repotting. It's best to repot every 3-4 years or when the clumps become overcrowded. To maintain vigor, divide the corms during repotting and replant the healthiest ones.
Humidity & Misting
Montbretia 'Voyager' does best in outdoor conditions where it can receive natural humidity. It prefers moderate humidity levels but is quite adaptable and can tolerate the varying humidity conditions typically found in outdoor garden environments.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Plant montbretia in a bright spot with well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Plant in sun, enrich soil with compost, ensure good drainage.
- Hardiness zone
  5-9 USDA
Life cycle
Crocosmia 'Voyager', commonly known as Montbretia 'Voyager', begins its life cycle as a dormant corm in winter, which sprouts in spring to produce sword-shaped green leaves. By mid to late summer, the plant blooms, displaying bright yellow, funnel-shaped flowers on arching stems. After flowering, seeds may develop in capsules, but propagation is more commonly achieved through the division of corms. In autumn, the plant's foliage dies back, and the corms enter a period of dormancy, conserving energy for the next growing season. Throughout the growing season, the corms multiply, creating a clump that can be divided every few years to prevent overcrowding and to propagate new plants. Crocosmia 'Voyager' completes its life cycle annually, going through these stages of growth, flowering, and dormancy each year.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Late Spring-Early Summer
- Propogation: The popular method to propagate the Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Voyager', commonly known as Crocosmia, is by division. The best time for this is in the spring after any danger of frost has passed. To propagate by division, carefully lift the clumps of corms out of the ground using a fork or a spade. Gently tease apart individual corms, ensuring each has a piece of the base roots attached. Replant the divided corms at a depth of about 3 to 5 inches (8 to 13 centimeters), spacing them about 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20 centimeters) apart, in well-drained soil with full to partial sunlight. The new plants will grow and multiply over the season, continuing the cycle of propagation in subsequent years.