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In Bloom

Crocosmia can be found in the Rhododendron Garden in Beds 28, 72 and 73.

Location Scientific Name Crocosmia Common Name Montbretia Family Iridaceae Plant Type Perennial plants Environment Plant corms in full sun or light shade and well-drained, well-amended soil. Best to plant in the late Autumn after seeing the plant flowering so you are sure of the variety you want. Harvest cut flowers when the first two to three florets open. Save some to mature to seedpods which are also attractive. Propagate by division or by lifting and removing offsets of the corms. After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place. Some cultivars of this plant spread rampantly in the Bay Area. Bloom Flowers in late Summer/Fall months. Uses Great as a cut flower, profuse bloomer. Attracts pollinators to the garden. More Info Hundreds of images of crocosmia culitvars from this South African site A very complete book with lovely illustrations Crocosmia and Chasmanthe, (Timber Press 2004) by Manning, Goldblatt and Dunlop. Profile Contributor: Fred Bové

“Golden Swan,” or “Falling Stars,” are names South Africans give to this spectacular member of the Iris family. Crocosmia blooms are funnel shaped, floriferous, and grow one-sided on tall spikes, their arching stems rising from mounds of glossy strap-like leaves. The brilliant petals mute into shades of scarlet to yellow to orange, with stamens and stigmas flaring out beyond their coronas. Perennial favorites in cool moist gardens, some Crocosmia cultivars flourish even in sunny and drier locations.

Crocosmia comes from the Greek words “Krokos”, for crocus, specifically saffron crocus, and osme, or “smell” because the crushed leaves were thought to smell like saffron. They are native to Africa from Capetown to Tanzania and Madagascar. Wild varieties were brought to England two centuries ago and became a favorite in English gardens where many cultivars were created.

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Magnolia campbellii January	Magnolia denudata February	Magnolia x veitchii March
Iris douglasiana April	Aesculus californica May	Vaccinium ovatum June

Acer palmatum 'Sango kaku' January	Magnolia campbellii 'Darjeeling' February	Bomarea spp. March
Rhododendron occidentale April	Polystichum munitum May	x Chiranthofremontia lenzii June
Salvia leucantha July	Hydrangea seemannii August	Wollemia nobilis September
Cyathea cooperi October	Pinus radiata November	Correa spp. December

Garrya elliptica January	Magnolia x soulangeana February	Senecio glastifolius March
Ribes spp. April	Oxalis oregana May	Calandrinia grandiflora June
Taxus baccata July	Romneya coulteri August	Passiflora parritae September
Malvaviscus arboreus October	Monterey Cypress November	Aloe arborescens December

Aloe plicatilis January	Banksia seminuda February	Zantedeschia aethiopica March
Magnolia laevifolia April	Araucaria heterophylla May	Toxicodendron diversilobum June
Clarkia sp. July	Agapanthus August	Brugmansia September
Cedrus spp. October	Protea repens November	Camellia sinensis December

Thujopsis dolabrata January	Gordonia longicarpa February	Rojasianthe superba March
Echium spp. April	Iris douglasiana May	Digitalis purpurea June
Felicia amelloides July	Ceroxylon quindiuense August	Amaryllis belladonna September
Ginkgo biloba October	Acer morrisonense November	Ilex aquifolium December

Picea sitchensis January	Telanthophora grandifolia February	Aeonium arboreum 'Schwartzkopf' March
Leptospermum April	Salvia gesneraeflora May	Lavandula spp. June
Pelargonium July	Fuchsia paniculata August	Luma apiculata September
Luculia October	Arbutus unedo November	Cycad December

Restionaceae January	Hellebores February	Ceanothus March
Rhododendron April	Psoralea pinnata May	Fremontodendron californicum June
Leucadendron argenteum July	Crocosmia August	Gunnera tinctoria September
Pellaea rotundifolia October	Fuchsia boliviana November	Erica canaliculata December

Magnolia campbelli January	Magnolia denudata February	Camellia March
Geranium maderense April	Acmena smithii May	Eschscholzia californica June
Dendromecon harfordii July	Romneya coulteri August	Eupatorium purpureum September
Epilobium canum sp. October	Grevillea spp. November	Drimys winteri December