One of these was
Montbretia, commonly known as Crocosmia, pictured.
Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora): When I first moved to my current home more than 20 years ago, my garden was awash with hybrid
montbretia, the corms producing spear-like leaves and orange flowers in high summer, and multiplying with a vengeance once they took hold.
Plant caladium (Caladium), elephant ears (Colocassia), tuberous begonia (Begonia x tuberhybrida),
montbretia (Crocosmia), lily of the Nile (Agapanthus), garden canna (Canna x generalis), tuberose (Polianthes) or peacock orchid (Acidanthera).
Or branch out with South African choices, including freesia,
montbretia, and watsonia.
Crocosmia, or
montbretia as it's often known, is a South African native that has made itself at home here.
When we think of invasive plants, alarm bells might ring at the mention of Japanese knotweed or giant hogweed - but can the same be said about buddleia, bamboo or
montbretia? Yet these - and other - common plants will be coming under the spotlight at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May 22-26), in a garden of invasive plants, created to highlight non-native species that 'escape' from gardens up and down the UK and the damage they can do once let loose.
Also sometimes known as
Montbretia, this cormous perennial is low maintenance and easy to grow.
Montbretia has been derided by many, outlawed by some.
Or crocosmia Lucifer with sword like leaves and burnt orange
montbretia flowers, with achillea Moonshine, a lemon flowered silver leaved yarrow.
She shares with other writers who have written of this region in recent times, notably Eamon Grennan, Tim Robinson, and Mary O'Malley, an intense attachment to place and a fine eye for detail: Between hedge and house
montbretia flares, slow rain falls.
They wore red satin strapless gowns with wide taupe sashes and carried clutches of red
montbretia, dahlias, yellow roses, yarrow, hypericum berries, and lilies.