PERENNIALS > CROCOSMIA
IN THIS GUIDE
CROCOSMIA GUIDES
Container GrowingNot FloweringOverwinteringPruningVarieties
Crocosmia ‘ Lucifer ’ is the most wide grown variant of crocosmia – a deciduous perennial with narrow , blade - shape leaves and graphic cannular flowers .
In the case of the ‘ Lucifer ’ cultivar , these flower are bright red , and the plant life typically grow to around 1.2 meter marvellous .
Crocosmia‘Lucifer’ makes a colourful addition to a herbaceous border
In this guide , we ’ve join forces withMark Wash , the owner of Trecanna Nursery , a specialist crocosmia greenhouse free-base in Cornwall .
“ I first discovered these wondrous plant in the 1980 ’s , a time when bold semblance were often glower upon , ” says Mark .
“ Their vibrant tones attracted me and I travelled to the mountain of South Africa to see them in their native surroundings , then followed their 140 - year history of multiply across Europe , all of which helped me to apprise crocosmia more and more . ”
Crocosmia‘Lucifer’ makes a colourful addition to a herbaceous border
C.‘Lucifer ’ is easy to grow in the UK , as it ’s hardy to our clime and can defy harsh wintertime and temperatures down to -15 ° C .
It is most often establish in flower bed and herbaceous border , where it complement other flowering plants , and isa great way to add tropic colourto your garden in late summer , once the spring boo-boo have come and gone .
It also provide attractive , mid - green foliage from spring to autumn .
C.‘Limpopo’
Overview
PreferredFull Sun / Partial Shade
ExposureExposed or Sheltered
Height1 – 1.5 M
Spread0.1 – 0.5 MiB
Bloom TimeJuly – September
PreferredMost Soil Types
MoistureMoist but well drained
pHAny
The crocosmia genus of flowering plants is part of the Iridaceae iris family and is aboriginal to southerly and easterly Africa.1Crocosmia . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . Retrieved March 14 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20292-1
It is a bulb flower or deciduous perennial , and maturate in ball , to a maximum meridian of 1.5 m and diffuse of 0.5 m.
It can take up to 5 years to pass this stage , with flower displays getting chummy each time of year .
TheCrocosmia‘Lucifer ’ is a appendage of the hybrid cultivarC. x crocosmiiflora , make in 1879 by Victor Lemoine.2Powers , J. ( 2007 , July 7).Sympathy for the Devil . The Irish Times . Retrieved March 14 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/sympathy-for-the-devil-1.948840Crocosmia‘Lucifer ’ make a colourful increase to a herbaceous border
It is characterise by minute , pleated green leaves , which grow vertical and in dense clumps , as well as sprays of fiery red flowers – the colour of the devil , which is where it sustain its name .
The plant life flowers during the mid - to - former summer months , typically from July to September .
“ I just adore the way that crocosmias come into flower from the early summer onwards , just as many other border perennials are past their best , ” says Mark .
“ They bring the garden to life just when it ’s needed and , after the blooms , do seedheads that decorate the garden well into the autumn . ”
Crocosmia is also be intimate as ‘ Montbretia ’ or ‘ Coppertips ’ .
As well as ‘ Lucifer ’ , there are many other varieties of crocosmia , including intercrossed variety such asC. x crocosmiiflora‘Carmen Brilliant ’ andC. x crocosmiiflora‘Star of the East ’ .
Due to their fast - growing nature , these varieties have become incursive in some areas .
In total , there are over 400 cultivars in the Crocosmia genus , bring forth a sort of flush colouring material , including cerise , orange and yellow.3Crocosmia . ( 2020 , July 16 ) . Tree Guide UK . call back March 14 , 2023 , fromhttps://www.treeguideuk.co.uk/crocosmia/
“ Among my best-loved Crocosmias are the golden - lily-livered blooms of the cultivar ‘ George Davison ’ and the two - tone orange and red dab of ‘ Emily McKenzie ’ ” say RHS Master of Horticulture Peter Lickorish .
“ These works ’ strap - like leaf tally geometric frame to herbaceous perimeter whose form can otherwise be soft and lumpy . ”
Habitat & Growing
Conditions
Crocosmia is aboriginal to southerly and easterly Africa , where it get on grassland with moderately rich soil , and in neighborhood with a predominantly gay climate and high summertime rainfall .
That being read , many varieties of crocosmia are hardy , and can hold up broken temperature and partial shade in hot climates .
The ‘ Lucifer ’ cultivar is a hybrid and is hardy down to temperature of -10 to -15 ° coke .
How To Grow Crocosmia
If turn in a flower layer or molding , you should shoot for to plantC.‘Lucifer ’ in groups of 12 or more – it grow in clumps , so this will ensure you get a good cover of foliage and display of peak in the summer .
lay the corms more or less 15 - 20 centimetre asunder , 7 - 10 cm beneath the ground , and at least 50 cm forth from neighbouring plants .
YourC.‘Lucifer ’ will most likely need support from bamboo canes or similar , at least whilst it ’s growing .
As with many plants , it ’s also significant to keep the area around your crocosmia spare from weed , to prevent them from interfere with the plant ’s rhizomes .
Ongoing Care
Crocosmia‘Lucifer ’ is a dauntless flora , and will arise in most fairly fat soil type – include clay , chalk and sand – and most pHs .
It favor its soil moist , but not waterlogged , so you must see to it the ground has good drainage .
Add a wry mulch upon planting to facilitate keep the land moist , but beyond that , you should n’t want to fertilise .
Although it can cope with partial shadiness , crocosmia will thrive best in full Sunday , so a sunny spot with limited reporting in an east , Dixieland or west - facing garden is ideal .
For beneficial results , plant the corm ( similar to incandescent lamp ) during spring , once the last icing of winter have passed .
irrigate your crocosmia whenever the soil experience dry , from springtime to fall , to ensure it stay moist .
This will aid the works to turn and bloom during the efflorescence season .
You should not need to water over winter , although you could tally mulch to the soil to help protect the corm from the cold , especially if the temperature fall consistently below freeze .
Supporting Crocosmia
As a world-wide prescript , C.‘Lucifer ’ will uprise in clumps of between 1–1.5 m gamy and 0.2–0.5 m wide-eyed at maturity date .
The median flora reaches a height of around 1.2 M , which pee-pee it unadulterated for positioningtowards the back of your herbaceous borderline .
It will likely take 3–5 years before it reaches this size of it .
“ A peony documentation is an elaborate direction to provide a frame for plants to turn through , and keep marvelous stems upright , ” says Peter Lickorish .
“ For utilization in a interchangeable way , narrow-minded brand rod can be crumpled around plant pots , to form a curved physical body , with a leg either side , that can be pushed into the earth to make a brace . ”
Common Problems
C.‘Lucifer ’ is a dauntless works , and is generally not vulnerable to disease .
The most vernacular problem to which it may succumb is glasshouse red wanderer mite – particularly during summer , if you are experiencing red-hot , dry atmospheric condition , or if you are growing your plant life in a glasshouse .
Red wanderer mite , also recognise as glasshouse two - spotted spider mite , is a common pest found on garden and theater plants .
It feed on sap from your works ’s parting , causing them to take on a mottled visual aspect , and to drop off early – in the most severe case , it can even lead to the expiry of your industrial plant .
you’re able to help prevent the mites by misting your plant life with piss .
If you suspect an infestation , look for signs of the midget green mites and their eggs on the underside of leafage ( you may need a magnifying glass ) , as well as symptom such as mottling and paling of leaves , and the appearance of a fine silk webbing over the plant .
The preferred way to control glasshouse red spider mite is biologically – pesticides can damage nearby plants , and boost resistivity in the tinge .
biologic ascendancy include thePhytoseiulus persimilisandAmblyseius californicuspredatory mites , and the larvae of theFeltiella acarisugapredatory midge , and can be purchased via ring mail order .
If crocosmia is growing in waterlogged soil , it can also be prostrate to root rot .
endeavor to keep off this by plant your crocosmia in land with right drainage .
If growing in a container , make indisputable the great deal has sufficient drainage holes .
Division And Replanting
Crocosmia can be separate and replanted in fountain before it participate the active growth period .
To do so , turn over into the ground around the works to a depth of 30 cm .
cautiously come away and remove some of the flora ’s corm , or in the case of the Lucifer cultivar , the hugger-mugger stanch and roots .
snip any onetime or idle textile , then plant the detached corms / stem now in their new home .
Water thoroughly , and go along to do so until the plant life is establish .
Crocosmia will appreciate being divided every 3 years or so , for the benefit of its health .
Bare patch can organise in the midsection of clumps which are not split up on a regular basis .
