Crocosmia crocosmiiflora x

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora, common montbretia, is a garden hybrid raised in 1880 by the French nurseryman Victor Lemoine from two South African species, Crocosmia aurea and C. pottsii. A cormous perennial spreading by stolons into dense clumps, it produces ribbed, sword-shaped leaves up to 20 mm wide, shorter than the flowering stem, which reaches about 90 cm. The bright to deep orange flowers, borne in arching spikes, open in summer and are more vigorous than either parent. The hybrid has naturalised widely in mild-climate regions. Grow in well-drained but not overly dry soil, in full sun or part shade.