Crocosmia 'Lucifer' |
Native Region: South Africa
Zone Range: 6-10
Preferred Climate: Full to semi sun; well draining garden soil.
Harvest Date: Sunday 10 October, 2010
Seed count: 30-40
Description:
From corms in Spring, broad grass like leaves emerge followed by thick wiry purple tinted branched flowering stems with double row of flower buds. 'Lucifer', a hybrid crocosmia, is one of the tallest varieties available with intense red coloured trumpet shaped blooms. Plants can reach 1.4 meters in height. Much loved by hummingbirds.
Notes:
I was told years ago that crocosmia requires a ‘special touch’ to make them thrive. If that ‘special touch’ is breathing, then anyone can grow this. Crocosima reproduces quickly by multiplying underground corms and by seed. Oddly enough corms need to be crowded to produce profuse blooms but looses vigor and stops flowering when too crowded. Best results seem to come when clumps are divided every 3-4 years. Debates abound on the hertitage behind the making of 'Lucifer' if its a genus hybrid or a species hybrid.
Cultivation:
No special pretreatment needed. Soak seed 6-12 hours in warm water. Sow 4 mm deep in sand/peat layer in seeding container. Tamp firmly. Keep moist. Should germinate in 30-90 days at 20 C. Sometimes germination can be erratic so don't dump the pot until the end of the second year.
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