'Lucifer' is an artificial hybrid created by Alan Bloom from two South African species, Crocosmia masoniorum and C. paniculata . The cultivar was registered in 1969 and continues to be a popular choice among gardeners. It was awarded an Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society in 1993. It prefers moderately moist, well-drained soils in sun to partial shade. Plant 6 bulbs to a square foot at 5 to 8 inches deep. They will naturalize in time and can be divided as needed in the spring. In cooler climates, they may not bloom the first year. ‘Lucifer’ 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. 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. Rabbits are fond of the foliage. More information on Crocosmia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheAgastache 'Astello Indigo'Agastache Poquito Orange™ 'TNAGAPO'Narcissus
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Bulb; Herbaceous Perennial
Life cycle
Bulb
USDA zones
5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Filiform
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Papery; Smooth
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Sword-shaped basal leaves with parallel venation.
Flower color
Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Good Cut; Long Bloom Season; Long-lasting; Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
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.