Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’             
(kro-KOZ-mee-ah)

Family: Iridaceae 

Common name: monbretia
Zone: 6 – 9
Height: 3 – 4 ft (90 – 120 cm)
Spread: 18 – 24 in (45 – 60 cm)
Aspect: full sun; partial shade
Soil: average; well-draining
Water: moderate

Description: An herbaceous perennial with a fairly upright, clumping habit. Medium green leaves, looking very much like long blades of grass, drape wonderfully in a vase-like form. Arching stems of eye-catching flame red, funnel-shaped flowers appear in mid-summer through autumn.

Special Notes: A native to South Africa, this is a good cut flower for floral arrangements. Attracts bees, butterflies and especially hummingbirds. Plant grows from corms. Seeds do not always come true. Seed is used largely in the production of new varieties. Established clumps should be divided every 3 – 4 years in spring or autumn. Few pests or disease.

In our Zone 7a garden: We love this plant for the hummingbirds and butterflies it attracts to our garden. However, John does tend to curse it every so many years because he has left its necessary maintenance division too long. And when he finally gets around to it, digging it up out of the ground for dividing has turned into a real grunt job. He has to bring out the no-nonsense tools – drill steel and axe.

Honestly, when you have to start roping the mass of blade-like leaves to keep them from smothering the smaller plants surrounding ‘Lucifer’ you have to know you should have divided the Crocosmia last year…or the year before. But to give John his due credit, he is very meticulous in maintaining his horticultural display to perfection. There just are not enough hours in the day to get to everything.

 

RHS Award of Garden Merit 1993

 

Posted on August 16, 2012; updated on February 11, 2025