Montbretia
Crocosmia xcrocosmiiflora
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Description
Montbretia has stiff leaves like grass that grow from perennial corms. Originally from South Africa, this garden escapee can be found throughout New Zealand.
Flowering in summer the large attractive red-orange flowers are 4-5cm in diameter, with 6 petals. Flowers can be seen in January-February,
The fruit are small capsules with green sides and contain flattened, triangular reddish-brown seeds about 3mm long.
Leaves are light green and broad-shaped about 2cm wide. Roots are flattened corms about 15 x 35mm, that multiply easily.
Montbretia grows up to 90cm tall on stiff, leafy stems.
Habitat
Mainly found in waste areas and along the roadside.
Distribution
Extremely widespread throughout the North Island, South Island, and Stewart Island.
Important
Regardless of which control method you use, Cape Ivy is best controlled when flowering but before the seeds are produced. When spraying it is better if you can cut the stems below waist height and then spray the actively growing plants (during spring and summer).
Herbicide Control
Leaf Swabbing
Using a Venetian blind cleaning brush dip in one of the solutions below and wipe up both sides of the leaves:
- MSF600 – 5g/L of water.
- G-360 GLYPHOSATE – 100ml/L water.
- G-540 GLYPHOSATE – 67ml/L water
- Granny Herbicide – 45g/L water.
Cut’n’Paste
Apply 2-4mm gel wiped onto the underside of the leaves.
Spraying
Spray at the full-leaf stage. Sadly there are no selective herbicides and all will kill grass and other plants.
- MSF600 – 4g/10 litres of water.
PLUS any of the following. - G-360 GLYPHOSATE – 10ml/L,
- G-540 GLYPHOSATE – 6.7ml/L or,
- Granny Herbicide – 4.5g/L.
In all cases, when spraying, add SuperWetter at 10ml per 10 litres of water.
