Peach Melba Montbretia

Plant corms in spring after the last frost, spacing 6–8 inches apart and setting corms 3–4 inches deep in well-drained soil. Montbretia (Crocosmia) produces graceful, arching stems of funnel-shaped flowers in mid-to-late summer. Water well after planting and keep soil consistently moist throughout the growing season. In warm climates it is perennial; in colder areas, corms should be dug and stored over winter.

Deadhead spent blooms to keep the plant tidy, though the foliage remains attractive even after flowering. In climates colder than Zone 6, dig the corms after the first frost kills the foliage, allow them to dry, and store in barely moist peat or vermiculite in a cool, frost-free location over winter. Replant in spring. Fertilize in spring with a balanced fertilizer. Over time, clumps multiply and can be divided every few years.