Crocosmia (Crocosmia)

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ adds a bold splash of scarlet red to summer borders. Arching flower stems rise above clumps of sword-shaped leaves, creating a strong vertical accent and useful cut flowers.

Choose a sunny position with fertile, moist but well-drained soil. This cultivated ornamental is not a New England native; use it for summer color alongside plants suited to your site.

Plant Details

• Growth habit: Clump-forming, corm-grown herbaceous perennial
• Mature size: Usually 2–4 ft tall and 1–2 ft wide
• Bloom color: Scarlet red
• Bloom season: Mid to late summer
• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• Water: Regular moisture during active growth; avoid waterlogging
• Soil: Fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil
• Hardiness: Generally USDA zones 5–9; winter protection is important in colder sites
• Wildlife value: Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies
• Best uses: Summer borders, containers, mass plantings, and cutting gardens
• Native range: Cultivated garden hybrid; no native range for this cultivar
• New England status: Non-native ornamental; not native to Maine or New England

For dependable overwintering in zone 5 and colder, lift the corms and store them in a dry medium over winter. Divide crowded clumps as needed.