Aunt Eliza

Aunt Eliza: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Bold clump of pleated, sword-shaped leaves, 1–1.2 m tall and 40 cm wide.

Leaf

Broad, deeply pleated lengthwise, light green.

Flower

Narrow, curved tubular flowers 4–6 cm long, orange to orange-red, on zigzagging, branched stems.

Flowering

From July to September.

Corm

Corms in chains; each year a new one forms on top of the old one.

Flowering: July–September · Plants: March–May · Pruning: March

Why grow it?

• The largest crocosmia: a bold, architectural plant for the back of the border.
• Broad, pleated leaves that are decorative in themselves.
• Orange flowers from July to September, rich in nectar for bees and bumblebees.
• A parent of the well-known ‘Lucifer’ and related cultivars.
• Strong and easy, even in moist soil.

Aunt Eliza: where does it grow best?

• Sun to light shade.
• Fertile, well-drained soil: sand, loam or light clay.
• Average to moist in summer; in the wild it often grows along streams.
• At the back of the border, or as a striking group at the edge of a pond.
• Plant 6–8 corms per m².

Light

Sun and partial shade

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Not fussy

Moisture

Normal

Size

1.2 m tall, 0.4 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -15 °C)

Goes well with

• Sneezeweed: Warm orange and red shades at the same time.
• Globe thistle: Blue contrast next to the orange.
• Miscanthus: A tall ornamental grass as a backdrop.
• Joe-Pye weed: Tall pink flower heads at the back of the border.
• Rudbeckia: Yellow and brown in late summer.

Aunt Eliza: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–May.

1. Plant the corms in March–May, or potted plants in spring.
2. Set them 8–10 cm deep, 15 cm apart.
3. Mix compost into the soil.
4. Plant in groups at the back or middle of the border.
5. Water after planting.

Care

Water

Water in dry summers; it likes moisture while growing.

Feeding

Compost in spring.

Dividing

Every 3–4 years to keep it flowering well.

Support

In a windy spot you can support the tall stems.

Winter

Leave the old leaves as protection.

Tip: Use it as a striking backdrop in a warm border: the pleated leaves already give structure in June, long before the orange flowers appear.

Aunt Eliza: when to prune it?

Pruning months: March.

When: In early spring, in March.

How:

• Cut last year’s dead leaves off low down before the new shoots appear.
• Cut faded stems in late summer, or leave the seed pods.

Caution: Leave the old leaves in winter: they protect the corms from frost.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Division

In spring, lift the clump and split the chains of corms into pieces with a few corms each.

Sowing

Sow in spring in a cold frame; flowers follow after 2–3 years.

Aunt Eliza: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −15 °C: protect young plants.

• Hardy to about −15 °C.
• Leave the leaves and mulch the clump.
• In heavy, wet soil in winter the corms may rot.
• Give young plants extra protection in their first winter.

Diseases and pests

• Flopping stems: Too much shade or wind. Plant in more sun or support the stems.
• Few flowers: Crowded clump or too dry. Divide and water.
• Red spider mite: In hot, dry summers; keep the plant moist enough.

Through the year

• March: Cut off old leaves. Plant corms. Divide.
• April: Planting. Add compost.
• May: Last corms.
• June: Water in dry spells. Add support if needed.
• July: Start of flowering.
• August: Full flower. Bees and bumblebees.
• September: Last flowers. Seed pods.
• November: Mulch the clump; leave the leaves.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The English common name Aunt Eliza is said to be a corruption of the old genus Antholyza, in which the plant used to be placed.
• Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ is a cross between this species and Crocosmia masoniorum, raised by Alan Bloom in England in the 1960s.