Montbretia Overview
Montbretia is a bright orange flower found on all Hawaiian islands. Its color makes it easy to notice, especially when the blooms rise above surrounding greenery on slender stems.
This hardy flower has an interesting way of spreading. It does not produce fertile seeds. Instead, montbretia reproduces through thick underground stems called corms. These corms help the flower return and spread where conditions suit it.
Flowers, Corms and Growth
Montbretia is known scientifically as Crocosmia crocosmiflora. The flowers grow along green stems in a zigzag pattern, giving the bloom stalks a distinctive shape. This detail helps set montbretia apart from many other orange garden flowers.
Because it grows from underground corms, montbretia can be persistent once established. The corms store energy and allow new shoots to come up again, even when the above-ground growth changes with the season.
In Hawaii, montbretia stands out for its bright color, hardy nature and unusual bloom pattern. Related Hawaii flower pages include canna, heliconia, red ginger and firecracker plant.
