Montbretia Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
Other plants called Montbretia:
- Phonetic Spelling
- kroh-KOZ-mee-ah
- Description
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'Lucifer' is a South African Crocosmia that grows from corms and is hardy in NC. The bright red flowers will light up the garden in the summer and attract hummingbirds and other pollinators. They are often used by florists in flower arrangements.
It prefers moderately moist well-drained soils in sun to partial shade. Plant 6 bulbs to a square foot and 5-8 inches deep. They will naturalize in time but can be divided as needed in the spring. In cooler climates, they may not bloom the first year.
Plant en masse in the border to provide lasting color and cut flowers for your home.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Spider mites can cause damage to the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Crocosmia
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
- Bulb Storage:
- In zone 5 and lower, corms must be dug up and stored in a dry medium for the winter
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Bulb
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Long Bloom Season
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Abundant brilliant red, tubular flowers appear in midsummer atop slightly arching, sparsely branched 3-foot-tall stems. Flowers bloom from the bottom up. Good for cut flowers and often used by florists. Blooms June to August.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Filiform
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Sword-shaped basal leaves with parallel venation.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heat
- Humidity
- Rabbits
