Plant library · Perennial Flowers
Crocosmia spp.
Crocosmia brings arching sprays of red-orange flowers above a compact clump, reaching about 3 feet tall. Its mid- to late-summer bloom makes it useful for carrying a perennial border through the season after earlier flowers have faded. The upright flower stems give a planting vertical movement without requiring a large ground-level footprint, and the flowers suit gardens designed to welcome pollinators and hummingbirds.
Place crocosmia in the middle of a sunny border, behind low edging plants and in front of taller shrubs or perennials. Its narrow, upright form reads best in drifts or repeated groups rather than as isolated single plants. Keep the front edge of the clump reachable from a path for seasonal cleanup, while allowing the flower sprays to rise into open air rather than press against a wall, fence, or dense neighboring planting.
Set plants 12 inches apart, center to center, for a close-planted group. Each clump can mature to about 18 inches wide, so neighboring plants will visually knit together rather than remain sharply separate. Use this spacing within a bed, but leave a clear working edge beside paths and along the front of the planting. In a small border, reserve a band about 18 inches deep for each row of mature foliage.
Give crocosmia full sun and moderate, even moisture through active growth. A soil that holds some summer moisture yet drains freely supports the strongest display; avoid sites that bake dry or stay waterlogged. Light shade can be tolerated, but deep shade is a poor choice where dependable flowering is the goal. In hotter exposures, shelter from drying wind helps keep the planting from becoming stressed.[1][2]
The foliage and flower stems occupy their space through summer, with bloom arriving from mid to late summer. After flowering, remove spent stems at their base but leave the foliage in place until it dies back naturally. This makes crocosmia a better fit behind earlier-season plants or among neighbors that can keep the border composed as the clump winds down later in the year.[1]
Clumps expand over time, so avoid pinching crocosmia between slow-growing plants that need permanent elbow room. Divide crowded clumps in early spring every few years to preserve space and flowering. Some crocosmias can spread beyond their intended area, particularly forms that produce rhizomes, so review and contain the planting before it reaches neighboring border sections.[1][2]
Editorial content updated 2026-07-20.