Lucifer Crocosmia
Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
flowerLucifer is the most famous crocosmia, a summer fireball that no hot border should be without. From flat fans of upright, sword-shaped green leaves it sends up arching, wiry stems three to four feet tall, and in midsummer these are lined with rows of brilliant flame-red, tubular flowers that open in sequence from the base outward over several weeks. It is a hummingbird magnet, a superb and long-lasting cut flower, and the seed capsules that follow add interest into fall. Growing from corms, Lucifer is the hardiest and most vigorous crocosmia, multiplying into bold clumps, and it brings a jolt of tropical-looking red to the perennial garden with very little effort.
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 6 days
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Bloom
~80 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
6-8 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Plant corms 3-4 in. deep in spring after the last frost
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Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Moderately moist, well-drained
Hardiness Zones
Zones 5 – 9
When to Fertilize
Lightly in spring as growth begins
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer or compost
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow crocosmia in full sun for the heaviest bloom (it takes part shade, and appreciates a little afternoon shade in very hot climates) in moderately moist, well-drained soil. Plant the corms in spring after the last frost, about three to four inches deep and six inches apart, and water through the growing season. Lucifer is the hardiest crocosmia, reliable in zones 5 to 9, though it is injured below the upper twenties, so at the cold end give it a sheltered spot and a winter mulch, or lift the corms to store frost-free. It multiplies steadily into substantial clumps; divide them every few years in spring when bloom begins to thin to keep them vigorous. It needs little feeding and almost no other care.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care, and they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first bloom
Jul 4
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Black-Eyed Susan: Golden daisies that bloom with the red crocosmia in midsummer for a hot-colored, pollinator-rich combination
- Russian Sage: An airy blue contrast to the flame-red flowers that shares the full sun and good drainage
- Daylily: A sturdy summer companion in matching warm tones for the sunny border
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Stipple the sword foliage in hot dry weather - rinse the leaves and keep the plant from drought stress
Can streak and distort flowers and leaves - remove debris, and treat heavy infestations; usually minor
Cluster on new growth and buds - rinse off with water and encourage ladybugs
Strikes in cold, wet, poorly drained soil - plant in well-drained ground, and lift and store corms over winter at the cold edge of its range
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Crocosmia is a wonderful cut flower - cut the arching sprays in the cool morning when the lowest one or two flowers have opened and the rest show color as buds, and they continue opening up the stem in the vase for a week or more. In the garden, you can leave the seed capsules for fall interest and the birds, or cut stems back after bloom. The main long-term task is dividing the spreading clumps every few years in spring to keep flowering strong; at the cold end of its range, mulch heavily or lift the corms for winter.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
An ornamental corm of strong wildlife value - the brilliant red tubular flowers are a premier nectar source for hummingbirds and are also worked by bees and butterflies through midsummer. A superb cut flower; non-toxic and safe around pets and children.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.