Crocosmia 'Emily McKenzie' Falling Stars Bulbs

Crocosmia 'Emily McKenzie' Falling Stars is a deciduous perennial that brings a burst of color to your garden from midsummer to early autumn. This South African native features arching stems adorned with star-shaped, coral-orange blooms, highlighted by red and yellow markings and a vibrant crimson center. These elegant sprays not only attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden but also make stunning cut flowers for your home. Plus, the seedpods that follow the blooms serve as a food source for songbirds.

As a Crocosmia hybrid, also known as crocosmia, falling stars, or montbretia, 'Emily McKenzie' boasts a dense, upright, clump-forming habit of tall, grass-like foliage. This plant is a showstopper when used as a "thriller" in a container garden, but truly shines when mass planted. It's a perfect addition to mixed beds and borders and serves as an effective solution for erosion control. However, it does multiply annually and will need regular division, so careful placement is advised.

Hardy and easy to grow, crocosmias thrive in sunny to partially shady locations with fertile, humus-rich, evenly moist, well-draining soil. They are adaptable to a variety of soil types, including chalky, clay, loam, and even very acidic or alkaline soils. These plants are drought, humidity, and heat tolerant, but may benefit from some afternoon shade in hotter climates. In colder areas, a sheltered location and winter mulch protection are recommended. Crocosmias are generally disease-free and resistant to deer, rabbits, and salt. They can be grown in Zones 3-5, but the corms must be dug up and stored indoors during winter.