Plant Finder

Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide

Other Names:  Montbretia

Group/Class:  Nova® Series

Brand:  Terra Nova Nurseries

Description:

Stunning golden flowers rise above iris-like foliage in early to mid-summer; attracts hummingbirds; best performance in full-sun; each stalk is an arching spray of long lived, shining, star-like blooms; quickly forms multiple crowns; can be lifted in fall

Ornamental Features

Nova® Gold Dragon Crocosmia features showy spikes of gold trumpet-shaped flowers with orange overtones rising above the foliage from early to mid summer, which emerge from distinctive orange flower buds. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive sword-like leaves remain emerald green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Nova® Gold Dragon Crocosmia is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Nova® Gold Dragon Crocosmia is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Nova® Gold Dragon Crocosmia will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 3 feet apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Nova® Gold Dragon Crocosmia is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.