2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
A perennial thermophilic plant, the corms of which are removed from the soil for a dormant period, since at temperatures below minus five degrees they die. Montbrecia is grown outdoors in pots. Its bright inflorescences are suitable for cutting into bouquets
Rod Montbretia
The only plant species with the name "Montbretia loose-leaved" represents the genus Montbretia in our world. Previously, the genus was more extensive, but botanists have identified a number of species in an independent genus, called "Crocosmia". On sale today you can find plants from the genus Crocosmia, the label of which will say "Montbrecia" in the old fashioned way.
It is no coincidence that the plants were initially combined into one genus. They have common features, for example, they are both perennial plants with a tuber-root underground system of nutrition and accumulation of nutrient reserves. Hence, they have similar requirements for growing conditions. But, since the experts decided to divide them according to independent genera, it means that they also have differences. For an ordinary grower, distinguishing plants of two genera from each other is not an easy task, but not so important.
Varieties
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Loose-leaved montbrecia (Montbretia laxifolia) is the only species of the genus Montbretia. With its funnel-shaped bright flowers that form on a half-meter peduncle throughout the second half of summer, the montbrecia is similar to gladioli. For this similarity, some call the plant "Japanese gladiolus". The flowers can be pink, bright orange, or red. Linear narrow leaves emerge from corms in spring.
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Montbretia Pott (Montbretia pottsii) or
Crocosmia Pott (Crocosmia pottsii) - in summer, orange flowers bloom on peduncles up to 90 cm high, forming a dense inflorescence-ear.
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Crocosmia golden (Crocosmia aurea) is a plant up to 1 meter high with the largest, in comparison with other species, yellow-orange flowers that bloom in autumn. Suitable for cutting into bouquets.
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Crocosmia ordinary (Crocosmia x crocosmaeflora, or Montbretia crocosmaeflora) - a hybrid from the crossing of Montbretia Pott and Crocosmia golden. Orange flowers, larger than those of the parent species, appear in summer. There are varieties with tomato-red flowers, for example, the "Lucifer" variety, characterized by a peduncle height of 1.5 meters and high cold resistance.
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Garden hybrids - tireless creators of nature, by successive crossing of various species, bred many hybrids that differ in height and color of flowers. The height of garden hybrids varies from 50 to 120 centimeters. The color of the flowers can be orange, yellow or red.
Growing
Montbrecia and Crocosmia love sunny places, and only Montbrecia Pott can withstand light partial shade. Colds are destructive for all species, so their corms, like gladioli, are dug out of the soil for the winter and stored in the same way as gladioli bulbs.
The soil for the plant is preferable to loamy or sandy loam, loose, moisture-permeable, does not create stagnation of water. In spring and summer, regular watering is required. During the active growing season, liquid fertilizer is added to the water for irrigation every three weeks.
Montbrecia and Crocosmia are usually planted in open ground, or in flower pots, which decorate balconies and verandas. These are popular cut flowers for bouquets. In mixborders, on flower beds, they are usually planted in picturesque groups, harmoniously combining with other decorative cultures.
Depending on the specific climate, corms are planted from March to May, burying them 5 cm into the soil.
Reproduction
Reproduction is carried out by sowing seeds or by separating the children from the corms in the fall, which are planted in boxes in the spring or in a sheltered place in the open field for growing. After 2-3 years, plants from children delight with flowering.
Enemies
Like most bulbous plants, Montbrecia and Crocosmia can be attacked by fungi.
Ticks, thrips and aphids love to feast on leaves and flowers, and nematodes love to feast on roots.
Recommended:
Montbrecia
Montbrecia also known as crocosmia. This culture is one of the perennial plants; in total, about fifty-five species are read in the genus. This flower is surprisingly graceful, it is especially valuable for its decorative and rather long flowering period.
