Montbretia question

Sounds like a good idea - anything to hide the daffodils dying foliage. I plant hostas on top of my daffs for the same reason - and it works beautifully :0))))

Thank you treacle, I like your idea of hostas in the same spot, too. Did you see my updated question asking for the proper name of it? Do you know what it's called?!

yes this will work. you should be able to buy any of the crocosmia [montbretia] in the gc. and if they are in flower you will know exactly what you are getting.
or if you are prepared to wait i can send you crocsmia corms in the spring. only problem then of course is the daffs will be on the way up. at least you will be able to plant behind and infront of the daffs.

Yippee, my idea will work! I really didn't know if I was barking up the wrong tree with this one!

Thanks ever so much for your kind offer Seaburngirl, but unless I can't get any in the gc, I'm afraid I'm far too impatient to wait! I want instant impact, as I'm trying to fill in some gaps in my border with this idea, so it's another trip to the gc for me and digging deep into my purse again I'm afraid.

PS - I'm off to bed now, but probably won't be able to sleep for thinking of my exciting new plans! Goodnight all and thanks for your welcome thoughts.

Daffodils flower in spring and montbrecia much later in summer so the daffs will be over and done with long before the montbrecia starts. So yes, you can plant montbrecia on top of the daffs and both will be happy.

I wouldnt put a hosta in the same spot as your crocosmia, but if you are planting some daffs nearer the front of your border then definitely put a hosta on top :o)

I have loads of crocosmia given by freinds as they can be invasive igrow mine in cheap and cheerfull black flower buckets [from my local supermarket about 10 or 12 for 99p] ithen move the crocosmia arond the garden where ever theres a gap that needs brightening up

Are you bonkers, Jan65? I take it you're referring to the native montbretia that grows wild in places like Cornwall? It will be all over your garden, its incredibly invasive. The ones sold at the garden centres are usually hybrids, and although they spread, they're nowhere near as bad. and a reminder, you are getting some of the red ones later.... And frankly, I wouldn't worry about where you put the daffs, behind or in the montbretia - in no time at all, the daffs will be choked out of existence...
Why not let the daffs die back and cut off the foliage after six weeks. Get some hardy fuschias planted amongst them - these don't start growing properly before end of April, and aren't fully in leaf till May at least, by which time your daffs will have died back.

Oh. Feel rather deflated now. I've just been out to the garden centre and bought some - I bought two varieties - Meteore and Golden Glory. I don't know about the native one growing wild in Cornwall. Actually I was just about to send you a pm confessing that I've also bought some Lucifer. Returning from holidays a few days ago, I've had to remove some plants because they didn't survive while I was away, and the gaps are annoying me. I had planned on putting the Lucifer at the back against the fence, which is why I went ahead and bought it even though I know I'm getting some corms from you later (I would still like them, though, if you're still happy to send, as I have another place in mind that I could put them), with the orange in front. I've just been out and placed them to see what I think, and I think it looks good. Now I don't know if this is the right thing to do after all.

Edit - Sorry, Mavisc52, forgot to reply to you - what a good idea. Do you mean that you bury the pots?

Another Edit - Treacle, yes I realise I got a bit confused! Like your idea with the hostas and daffs.

And Bulbaholic, now I'm confused because your thoughts seem to conflict with Bamboo's. Oh dead, my head's in a whirl. I was right when I said I wouldn't be able to sleep last night - I couldn't stop thinking about montbretia, and tossed and turned for ages!

Oh okay, but you said in your original question you wanted some of the "common, original" one, which is the native I'm referring to. Sounds like you've been out and bought hybrids though, which will be fine.

It's what gardening is all about! Trial and error; delight and disappointment!

Yes I have trouble with the common montbretia too. I thought I had got rid of it but it's back. Same trouble in my last garden too, it takes over. I definitely wouldn't plant that one although putting it in pots sounds good as it IS pretty.
Missed you on here Jan, hope you had a good holiday :o))

Jan, ask two gardeners the same question and you are likely to get two different answers. The unusual thing about GoY is the number of times that we agree with each other :-).
The 'common' montbretia isn't too invasive here although it is again on Orkney.

Thanks all for your responses. By the common orange one I just meant the one that you see in everyone's garden - I wasn't aware that there was a type that grows wild. Sorry for the confusion! Anyway, I've gone ahead and planted the ones I bought yesterday and am pleased with the result. I will, however, be the first to admit if I've got it wrong, so watch this space!

Lily - we had a great holiday, thank you!

I dont bury my pots of crocosmia. Then i can just put them where they are needed.If they are under amixed shrub border or amongst my perrenial geraniums the pots arenot so noticible.

Even better Mavis, no digging! Thanks, that's a good idea that I might use in the future.

I am in Boston Massachusetts. I have six plants of Montbrecia that have grown almost four feet tall with all the rain we had this year, but they never flowered. I am so disappointed. Any ideas? Does that mean I should dig them out.

Thanks Mary

Seems a bit odd, but I wouldn't dig them out. Cut the topgrowth down as the autumn deepens ( or fall, in your case!) leave in place. If the topgrowth is still looking lovely and green, feed them now, while the corm is storing for next year's growth.