Crocosmia GEORGE DAVIDSON

Native to South Africa, the Crocosmia grow well in Western and even Central Europe all year round. So much so, in fact, that in England, these perennials which bloom in the late summer have already started to spread into the wild.

In Estonian conditions, however, the crocosmia is a borderline plant. In certain conditions – usually a warmer winter with a thick cover or thick layer of snow and a very warm and nice area for growing (for example, in Western Estonia and on the islands) – crocosmias may survive the winter outside. But in a normal winter, and in mainland Estonia, this rarely happens. The flowers are clustered in inflorescences and burst in succession, which extends the blooming period. Treat them like gladioli in autumn – dig them up and bring them indoors.