Product Description
Crocosmia 'Peach Melba'(25) Bare Root Corms
Common Name: Montbretia
A Symphony of Color for Your Garden
Crocosmia 'Peach Melba', commonly known as Montbretia, is a captivating perennial that adds a touch of elegance and vibrant color to any garden. This stunning variety features a profusion of peach-orange flowers that emerge from striking copper-colored buds, creating a beautiful contrast against the dark stems. With its sword-like foliage, attractive blooms, and low maintenance requirements, 'Peach Melba' is a delightful addition to borders, containers, and cut flower arrangements.
What Makes 'Peach Melba' Special? 'Peach Melba' distinguishes itself through several key features:
- Unique Flower Color: The soft peach-orange hues of the flowers are truly captivating and add a warm, inviting glow to the garden. This unique color sets 'Peach Melba' apart from other Crocosmia varieties, most of which have red or orange-red flowers.
- Striking Buds and Stems: The copper-colored buds create a beautiful contrast against the dark stems, adding an extra layer of visual interest. This dramatic effect enhances the overall appeal of the plant.
- Attractive Foliage: The broad, sword-like leaves of 'Peach Melba' provide architectural interest and texture to the garden, even when the plant is not in bloom. The foliage adds a vertical element that complements the graceful arching flower stalks.
- Versatile Landscape Use: 'Peach Melba' can be used in a variety of garden settings, including borders, containers, mass plantings, and as a focal point. Its adaptability makes it a valuable asset for any gardener.
- Low Maintenance and Resilience: Crocosmia is known for its low maintenance requirements and resilience. 'Peach Melba' is relatively drought-tolerant once established and requires minimal care, making it a reliable and rewarding addition to the garden.
- Attracts Pollinators: 'Peach Melba' is a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, adding life and movement to the garden.
- Excellent Cut Flower: The long-lasting blooms of 'Peach Melba' make it an excellent choice for cut flower arrangements, bringing the beauty of the garden indoors.
Detailed Description: 'Peach Melba' forms clumps of upright, sword-like leaves that provide a lush green backdrop for the vibrant flowers. The flower stalks arch gracefully, bearing numerous buds that open to reveal the stunning peach-orange blooms. The flowers are funnel-shaped and are arranged in a cascading fashion along the stalk, creating a beautiful display.
Native Habitat (and Its Influence on Cultivation): Crocosmia is native to South Africa, where it thrives in grasslands and open woodlands. This origin explains its preference for full sun and well-drained soil. Understanding the native habitat helps gardeners provide the ideal growing conditions for 'Peach Melba'.
Landscaping Design Tips:
- Border Plant: 'Peach Melba' adds a vibrant splash of color to garden borders and pathways. Its vertical growth habit makes it an excellent choice for adding height and structure to the border.
- Container Gardening: This Crocosmia variety also thrives in containers, making it suitable for patios, balconies, and decks. Its striking foliage and flowers add a touch of elegance to any container.
- Mass Plantings: Plant 'Peach Melba' in mass plantings to create a dramatic and eye-catching display of color. The effect is particularly stunning when planted in drifts or sweeps.
- Mixed Borders: Combine 'Peach Melba' with other flowering perennials and grasses to create a dynamic and visually appealing border. Consider companion plants with contrasting colors or textures to accentuate the beauty of the peach-orange blooms. Plants with blue, purple, or silver foliage complement the warm tones of 'Peach Melba' beautifully.
- Cut Flower Garden: Plant 'Peach Melba' in a dedicated cutting garden to ensure a steady supply of beautiful blooms for indoor arrangements. The flowers last well in vases, bringing the beauty of the garden indoors.
- Focal Point: Use 'Peach Melba' as a focal point in a smaller garden or to draw attention to a specific area of the landscape.
Planting and Care:
- Planting Time: The best time to plant Crocosmia 'Peach Melba' is in the spring after the last frost has passed.
- Location: Choose a location that receives full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun). While it can tolerate some shade, full sun promotes the best flowering and foliage color.
- Soil: 'Peach Melba' thrives in well-drained soil and can tolerate a range of soil types, from poor to fertile. Amend the soil with compost or other organic matter before planting to improve drainage and fertility.
- Watering: Water regularly during the first year to establish a strong root system. Once established, 'Peach Melba' is relatively drought-tolerant but benefits from occasional watering during dry periods.
- Fertilizing: Fertilizing is generally not necessary for Crocosmia. However, you can apply a balanced fertilizer in spring if desired.
- Mulching: Apply a layer of mulch around the plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
- Winter Protection: In colder zones (5 and 6), provide winter protection by mulching heavily around the base of the plants. You can also lift the corms and store them indoors over winter in a cool, dry location.
- Pest and Disease Control: Crocosmia is generally pest and disease resistant. However, keep an eye out for common garden pests such as slugs and snails, and treat any issues promptly.
- Dividing: Over time, Crocosmia clumps can become overcrowded. Divide them every few years in spring or fall to maintain vigor and promote better flowering.
Other Insights for Gardeners:
- Spreading Habit: Crocosmia can spread through rhizomes, so be mindful of its potential to spread in the garden. You can control its spread by dividing the clumps regularly or planting them in containers.
- Deer and Rabbit Resistance: 'Peach Melba' is generally resistant to deer and rabbits, making it a good choice for gardens where these animals are a problem.
- Long Blooming Season: 'Peach Melba' has a relatively long blooming season, typically extending from midsummer to late summer, providing weeks of beautiful color in the garden.
Crocosmia 'Peach Melba' is a truly exceptional Montbretia variety that offers a unique combination of beauty, resilience, and versatility.
Its vibrant peach-orange flowers, attractive foliage, and low maintenance requirements make it a valuable addition to any garden. With proper care, 'Peach Melba' will reward you with a stunning display of color and elegance for years to come.
- Height: 0-36.0 Inches
- Spread: 0-24.0 Inches
- Hardiness Zones: 5,6,7,8,9
- Flower Color: Orange Shades
- Foliage Color: Green shades
- Sunlight: Full Sun (> 6 hrs. Direct Sun)
- Water Requirements: Average Water Needs
- Soil Quality: Poor to Fertile Soil Quality
- Soil Chemistry: Acidic Soil (pH < 7.0)Neutral Soil (pH = 7.0)Alkaline Soil (pH > 7.0)
- Bloomtime: Midsummer Late Summer
- Attracts Wings: Attracts Hummingbirds Bee Friendly
- Critter Resistant: Deer Resistant
- Growth Rate: Medium
- Garden Style: Patio, Container, Eclectic
Border Plant, Container, Cut Flower, Mass Planting, Specimen, Focal Point
Corm: A solid, underground, bulb-like portion of the stem of a plant bearing roots at the base.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
