Cultivating Crocosmia (falling stars) in Five Easy Steps

Before we dig into Cultivating Crocosmia in Five Easy Steps, let’s clear up a few common questions about this dazzling garden star. Crocosmia—also known by its celestial nickname ‘falling stars’—is sure to steal the show in your garden.

Crocosmia 101: Your Burning Questions Answered

Do  Crocosmia  like sun or shade?

Crocosmia prefers a semi-shaded spot, though the hybrid C. x crocosmiiflora is perfectly happy soaking up full sun.

Is  Crocosmia  indigenous to South Africa?

Absolutely! This homegrown beauty hails from the eastern parts of South Africa, with eight species thriving in our sunny climate.

Where is the best place to plant  Crocosmia  ?

A mixed perennial bed is suitable.

Will  Crocosmia  multiply?

Oh, you bet! Crocosmia corms multiply generously each year. However, when they start forming a congested traffic jam underground, flowering takes a hit. The fix? Lift, divide, and replant every three years (June is ideal).

Can Crocosmia be grown in pots?

Yes, they can be grown in pots—perfect for adding a pop of fiery colour. 

Five Easy Steps to Cultivating  Crocosmia 

Step 1 – Choose a spot where the corms can chill undisturbed for years.

Step 2 – Loosen the soil to a depth of 30cm and mix in some compost (because who doesn’t love a nutrient boost?).

Step 3 – Plant the corms 5–8cm deep and give them a lekker mulch blanket.

Step 4 – Water deeply every 3–4 days, unless Mother Nature beats you to it.

Step 5 – Feed regularly with Hadeco Bulb Food in summer for top-tier blooms.

Follow these steps, and each summer your garden will be glowing with falling stars all season long!

More About Crocosmia - A Bit of History (and a Lesson in Patience)

Crocosmia originates from the Cape Floristic Region, Mpumalanga, KZN, and the Eastern Cape. Part of the Iridaceae family, it rubs leafy shoulders with gladioli, Chasmanthe, and freesia.

This local star first made its way to the UK around 1812, where bulb enthusiast William Herbert of Yorkshire proudly wrote about growing it in his garden. Except… it didn’t bloom. Not for 25 years. It finally flowered after he applied manure, proving once and for all that patience (and good fertiliser) pays off! So if yours takes a year or two to hit its stride, don’t panic—you’re still faster than William.

Today, Crocosmia hybrids have won countless awards at RHS Garden Shows, with over 200 cultivars available in the UK alone. Talk about getting the royal treatment!

Planting Tips for a Thriving Crocosmia 

The name Crocosmia comes from the Greek words krokus(saffron) and osme(smell), as the flowers release a saffron-like aroma when steeped in water. Fancy, right?

These beauties flower from summer to late autumn, but spring is the best time to plant them.

Water well for the first two years, and repeat after me: Mulch. Mulch. Mulch!

Crocosmia prefers humus-rich, moist-but-well-drained soil. Sure, she is adaptable but won’t be thrilled with bone-dry conditions. A little compost goes a long way!

Watering needs depend on the variety. A cultivar with ‘pottsii’(which naturally grows near riverbanks) will need more water, while ‘aurea’ types are happy with less.

Flower Facts & Garden Design Tips

Growth & Flowers

Crocosmia’s fiery flowers come in shades of red and orange, growing four to twenty per branched stem. They reach about 4cm in diameter, and the sword-shaped leaves in a fan formation give them a striking 1.2m height—though some can grow even taller!

Bird-Friendly

If you love birds, C. aurea will bring them flocking—their seeds are a firm favourite among feathered visitors.

Best Planting Companions

Avoid planting Crocosmia among other tall, sword-leaf plants, or they might sulk and blend in too much. Instead, pair them with low-growing grasses or fine-textured groundcovers to highlight their graceful arching stems. Lining a garden pathway? Even better—it creates a glowing floral frame.

What to Do If They Stop Flowering

If your Crocosmia isn’t blooming as much as it used to, and you’ve been diligent with fertiliser, it might be time for division. Unlike some cormous plants that replace their corms annually, Crocosmia forms chains of corms underground, storing extra energy. When the clumps get too crowded, flowering declines.

Here is how to fix it:

• Wait until winter, then carefully lift the plants.

• Select the largest, healthiest corms.

• Replant them in refreshed soil with compost and organic fertiliser.

There you have it—happy Crocosmia, ready to dazzle once again!

With these simple tips and tricks, you will have Crocosmia lighting up your garden in no time.

Happy gardening!