Description
Crocosmia ‘Emily Mckenzie’ is a lovely, strongly-coloured crocosmia with the typical swathe of sword-like foliage giving way to arching flower stems from mid-summer. From mid-spring onwards the upright grassy foliage emerges from the underground corms. When the flowers do arrive they do so on strong stems that hang above the foliage, a burnt orange colour at first and then opening into bold orange flowers patterned with patches of brown-red, contrasting with the plant’s darker flower stems and calyxes. Like all crocosmias, Crocosmia ‘Emily Mckenzie’ is one of the best plants for late summer colour – and though smaller than many other cultivars it provides a strong green presence in the garden once the flowering is over and into autumn.
The plants have been grown at our nursery in Cornwall. The foliage will grow to an ultimate height of about a 60cm (24 inches or so), with the flower stems 10-15cm (4-5 inches) above that. They spread via corms underground, and can form a substantial patch in a year or two, given the right conditions.
Growing Advice
Crocosmias are South African plants that love as much sun as they can get. Situate them in a full-sun location for best flowering – they will take less sun but are unlikely to flower as prolifically (we quite like the foliage as a contrast in borders, so flowers aren’t always the first and only interest). Though they are grassy they also aren’t keen on completely drying out, and prefer soils that are well-drained but fairly constantly moist, certainly while they’re settling in.
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