Solved Crocosmia ID

Hi, can someone confirm if this crocosmia is the invasive one or is it one of the fancier and better behaved hybrids? Photos have been taken a few weeks ago.
Thanks

 

I’d say it looks like the invading type. But nothing wrong with that if you have a steep bank that needs some sort of anti-slide system. They did a wonderful job of holding together a big long slope in our garden.

 

@Tidemark thank you for your response. I didn’t really notice this crocosmia spreading that much so I’ll just let it be

 

They are all invasive frankly just they need wet conditions to go crazy, if its too dry they grow fairly slowly

 

Just to let you know, crocosmia is listed as highly invasive and part of class 9 in the act about invasive plants.

 

The invasive one is Montbretia, which isn't the same as the cultivated varieties of Crocosmia. Even here, in damper ground, Crocosmias are all pretty well behaved.
Montbretia however, will grow in cracks of walls, right up against walls, and anywhere that's dry, as well as damp.
I'm not convinced yours is Montbretia @Oliya, but it can be hard to tell definitively.

 

I've never found C.lucifer invasive, but it's the only one I have to go by.

You're one in the picture @Oliya looks like mine did a month ago, totally brown now due to red spider mites.

 

I've had many types @pete, and none were invasive, but we do have Montbretia round here, and I still have to fight with it as it can be very persistent.
I had it all along the base of the gable wall of the house when we moved in. Even when the extension was built over most of that, it didn't kill it. It just spread along until it got to open ground again! I now have the enclosed box that hides my compost bins next to the extension, and I've seen the odd bit in there now and again.

 

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora, or montbretia, is the only crocosmia covered by Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981:
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 | Schedule 9 Part 2 | Animals and plants to which section 14 applies: Plants which are established in the wild | UK Wildlife | Nature | Biodiversity

All other varieties, and there are hundreds, are not invasive, not even the very vigorous 'Lucifer'.

What is fascinating is why this one early hybrid (France, 1880) of C. aurea and C. pottsii is so invasive, when all the others are not. They all produce seed, but I think the secret of Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora is its rapid expansion of the roots, which go on to form new corms.

 

Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora is the new name for what we used to call Montbretia.

Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora | montbretia Bulbs/RHS

Trecanna nursery in Cornwall specialises in them.
crocosmia Crocosmia from Trecanna Nursery - UK

 

I only mentioned that because I bought naively this one not realising to check first the internet:
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'George Davison' Davison | montbretia 'George Davison' Herbaceous Perennial/RHS

 

That is Crocosmia x x crocosmiiflora.....previously called by the name Montbretia and yes it can be very invasive!

 

In ireland a variety of different specimens ive seen are invasive. They are all fairly similar plants just itching for the right conditions. perhaps the hybrid is much more vigorous. we found a non hybrid crocosmia wandered in, possibly by seed on a trucks wheel, in the middle of the ancient woodland I help manage. It hasnt spread too much but its now a 4 meter clump.

I personally would not plant any crocosmia though I dont doubt there are varieties and enviroments in peoples gardens where it isnt competitive. I have one that has sat at the base of a tree and hasnt flowered or spread for 20 years. still there though, tough guy.

 

I just wish they'd stop messing with the names @Silver surfer! It's much easier if they call it Montbretia. They could have called it Crocosmia montbretia, so that people can easily tell the difference. That new name is a right mouthful
Joking apart, conditions will always dictate how invasive or not any plant can become, but Montbretia [yes -I'm still calling it that!] doesn't seem to care about growing conditions, whereas the cultivated ones are generally much better in that regard, and are choosier about what suits them to grow well - or not.
I succumbed yesterday when I had to go to B&Q. They had some very good specimens of C. George Davidson which I've been wanting for many years, and haven't been to the nursery to get it. It would have been about the same price as the nursery anyway, and it saved me the petrol, plus the greater temptation if I'd gone there instead.
That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it....

 

Your words made me thinking on Saturday evening and I followed your advice the next morning.