Crocosmia from the pound shop: will it spread?

Mander

I have a bad habit of buying random things from the pound shop because I like the picture on the label, but then I have no idea what to do with the plants. The other day I bought a packet of "mixed crocosmia", no cultivar name. It seems to be actual bulbs rather than corms. Once upon a time a friend gave me some of a plant that I thought was the same thing and I put it in a pot because she warned me that it could be invasive. It subsequently died, but I'm wondering if I should put these new things into a container rather than straight into the flower bed just in case they go crazy.

josusa47

They are inclined to take over, they form a clump which gets bigger each year.  But they're easy enough to control.  When the clump gets too big, you can dig them up, split them and give them away.  They don't self-seed, at least, not in my garden, but you can deadhead them if you want to be on the safe side.  My main grievance with croscosmia is that they all flower at once, make a wonderful show for a couple of weeks, then that's it until next year. And you have to leave the foliage until it dies down.  I think the back of a border is the best place for them.

UpNorth

not in the slightest invasive.   they have nice strappy leaves which can work really well with a more exotic looking bed.  also the flowers are 'hot' colours so again works well if yo'ure going for exotic.  don't plant with a load of lavender/pale late summer flowers.

Fairygirl

UpNorth said: not in the slightest invasive. 

Unless it's the common Montbretia. Different plant completely from named, cultivated varieties.

Mander

My hesitation is that the package gives no clue as to what variety or cultivar it might be, so I don't know if it is the common montbretia or not. I'm not experienced enough in such matters to be able to tell from looking at the bulb.

Fairygirl

You wouldn't be able to tell from looking at the corm unfortunately.
You could plant them up, and then wait and see. If it's Montbretia, and you don't want it, it should be easy enough to remove if done soon enough 

edhelka

It depends on the location. They are invasive here. I have some that are mixed with shrubs roots and there's no chance of getting rid of them, I just limit the spread. But if you plant them somewhere where they could be controlled and watch them, it should be fine.

Bijdezee

Whatever shop they come from they do spread. But, they're very nice things and not too difficult to remove or thin out if it's too much. I don't find that mine have spread too much, they are crocosmia 'firebird' and grown on clay soil so that might make a difference. Go for it, that's what I say

Fire

If they do spread, they will take a few years. So, you can plant them and see what happens. The corms multiply but they are fun to take up and give to neighbours.

Stevedaylilly

Hi.
Yes, they can be slightly evasive but controllable 
I have Crocosmia George Davison in sways in my garden with beautiful bright orange flower mingled with some light blue flowered agapanthus and they looking stunning when both in flower. By all accounts, my Crocosmia is evasive but as other have said just remove what you don’t want to thin out the plant when it’s start showing growth.
I would pot your particular crocosmia corm in a 2 litre pot with gritty compost, water well and see what you get