Crocosmia 'Paul's Best Yellow'
‘Paul’s Best Yellow’ is a tall yellow crocosmia that brings clear, bright color late in the season. Strong, arching stems carry showy tubular flowers that read cleanly in plantings and arrangements. It grows best in full sun with moist but well-drained soil and shelter from strong wind. In colder zones it benefits from winter mulch or lifting and storing the corms. Where summers are hot and soils dry out, regular irrigation helps maintain spike length and flower size.
At‑a‑glance
Group/Class: Montbretia; Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora
Height × spread: 40-60 in (1.0-1.5 m) × 20-39 in (0.5-1.0 m)
Bloom window: late summer to early fall
Color & flower form: bright egg-yolk yellow, tubular sprays
Fragrance: 0 none
USDA hardiness: zones 6-9
Breeder / Year / Origin: unknown
Awards/registration: RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM)
Cut-flower notes: tall stems suitable for cutting; condition promptly; typical vase life about a week.
Pet safety: avoid
How it differs
- Clear yellow color with large, showy blooms for late season impact.
- Taller habit than many yellow selections.
- AGM holder for garden reliability.
Strengths
- Bright, saturated yellow for mixed borders and bouquets.
- Useful late season color.
- Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies.
Care in one minute
- Choose a site with full sun to light afternoon shade in hot summers.
Soil: moderately fertile and well drained with steady moisture; avoid waterlogged clay.
- Plant corms 3 to 4 in deep and 3 to 4 in apart in groups; point up and roots down.
- Water during dry spells in summer; allow the surface to dry slightly between soakings.
Feeding: mix in compost at planting; a light spring feed is sufficient.
- Deadhead spent sprays; leave foliage to yellow before cutting back; divide congested clumps in spring.
Overwintering: mulch in zone 6; lift and store where winters are severe or soils stay wet.
Watch‑outs
- Height can lean in exposed, windy sites; provide shelter or discreet support.
- Clumps enlarge by corms; divide to maintain vigor.
Best uses (tags)
cutting, borders, pollinators, late season
Provenance note
Widely grown in the UK and North America; awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit for dependable garden performance.
References
- Royal Horticultural Society – Crocosmia ‘Paul’s Best Yellow’
- RHS – How to grow crocosmias
- Royal Horticultural Society – Potentially harmful garden plants
Written by: Your Flowers Guide editorial team
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