MARK Johnson has asked what use crocosmia is in the garden and what happened to the plant that looked the same but was called Montbretia?

CROCOSMIA is a genus of southern African bulbous plants which grow and spread by producing corms (small brown balls underground at the base of the leafy stem). All come from summer rainfall areas of southern Africa (Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Mozambique, Lesotho, Madagascar and Tanzania), and it is this that makes them suitable for growing outdoors in the UK. Most crocosmia are quite drought-tolerant, but they all benefit from being given plenty of water during their growing season.

The name derives from crocosmia, (kro-KOS-mee-ah) because the dried leaves smell of saffron when rubbed, and after the Greek words “krokos” for saffron and “osme” for smell.

The common Montbretia, (crocosmia x crocosmiiflora) was the first hybrid and was bred in France in 1879 by Victor Lemoine of Nancy, It was named after Antoine Francois Ernest Conquebert de Monbret, a botanist who accompanied Napoleon on his Egypt campaign in 1798. It was a cross of crocosmia pottsii (a species that grows near streams) with crocosmia aurea (a woodland species).

This is why most Montbretia prefer a little shade, lots of water, organic matter and nutrients.

The common Montbretia and a few other varieties have given the genus a bad reputation because they spread so vigorously and have become weeds throughout the world. There are ever more and more hybrids and new varieties coming onto the market, most notably Red King, Lucifer (both taller and deep red) Emily Mackenzie (orange flowers but much larger, with a deep brown throat) and citronella (much smaller and bright yellow) which seem to have more attractive qualities than the common variety. But you can get the common Montbretia (name now changed to crocosmia) to bear much larger flowers if you grow it in pots with plenty of organic matter and feed.

Believe it or not they can make a superb specimen plant for containers on the patio. Plus, they have their ecological uses. The bright colours of crocosmia attract hoverflies to the garden, which are a natural predator, and like the ladybird, eat aphids and greenfly.

Crocosmia leaves should be left after flowering to protect emerging shoots from frost and the hedgehogs will also hibernate in the old leaves, which they roll around themselves to form a ball.

Beneficial insects such as ladybirds and lacewings will also shelter among the foliage throughout the winter.

Crocosmia are simple to grow, easy to maintain and wonderful for splitting and giving to friends and family.

Jobs this week

■ Try to pick fruit such as plums, gages, peaches and apricots before the birds and wasps get to them.

■ Start buying spring bulbs.

■ If you are cutting lilies for the house, remember to leave some of the stem to store energy for next year’s bulb growth.

Brigid presents the BBC Tees Gardening show on Sundays from 1pm to 2pm.

Questions can be answered on the day by emailing brigidpress@bbc.co.uk anytime during the week, or texting 07786-200995 and phoning 01642-225511 during the show.