General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 5a -28.9 °C (-20 °F) to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
Maximum recommended zone: Zone 10b
Plant Height: 3 to 4 feet (.9-1.2 m)
Plant Spread: 1 to 2 feet (30-60 cm)
Leaves: Deciduous
Flowers: Showy
Flower Color: Red
Other: Scarlet red and yellow
Bloom Size: 1"-2"
Flower Time: Late spring or early summer
Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Corm
Uses: Cut Flower
Dried Flower
Wildlife Attractant: Bees
Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Propagation: Seeds: Will not come true from seed
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Offsets
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM
Parentage: Crocosmia masoniorum x Crocosmia paniculata
Child plants: one child plant

Image
Common names
  • Crocosmia

Photo Gallery
Location: Oregon
Date: summer 2011
Photo by Bonehead
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2014-07-13

Date: 2020-07-16
Crocosmia Lucifer
Photo by Lucichar
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2011-0708
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-07-09
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-06-20
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-07-09
Showing from a different angle the whole plant
Location: z5 MA
Date: 2011-07-18
Location: Putnam County Indiana
Date: 2010-07-29
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-06-29
Location: NJ
Date: 2017-07-15
hummer magnet!!
Location: NJ
Date: 2017-07-15
Location: Western Kentucky
Date: Summer 2010
Late evening
Location: NJ
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-04-24
Location: Photo by Carol Bacskai; zone 5b, Yorkville, IL
Photo by gardengus
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-07-09
Lots of blooms on an established plant

Date: 2020-07-13
Location: My Yard, zone 6
Date: 2022-07-13
Location: Towson, Maryland
Date: 2019-06-28
Location: Kalama, Wa
Date: 2010-08-10
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2009-07-19
Showing 'Lucifer' in a landscape setting in our front yard.
Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: 2013-07-08
Location: my Zone 7b garden in North Georgia Mountains
Date: 2023-06-24
Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 2016-07-17
Photo by gardenglassgems
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-06-20
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-07-10
Location: NJ
Date: 2012-07-10
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-06-30
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2010-07-09
Showing blooms from a different angle
Location: Philo, California
Date: 06-13
Hummingbirds love it.
Location: My Yard, zone 6
Date: 2020-07-08
Location: My Yard, zone 6
Date: 2022-07-13
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2015-07-12
Location: NJ
Date: 2017-07-15
Location: central Illinois
Date: summer 2006

Date: 2011-07-22
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-10-11
Photo by vanozzi
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2014-07-09
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2018-07-15
Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2022-08-07
Crocosmia 'Lucifer' sneaking through the fence
Location: Pacific Northwest, zone 8
Date: Jul 18, 2012
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-06-29
Location: NJ
Location: Oxfordshire, England
Date: 2017-07-07
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: Jun 25, 2006 11:30 PM
A Hummingbird favorite!
Location: NJ
Date: 2012-07-10
Location: My garden in Warrenville, SC
Date: 2020-06-19
Lucifer overlooking the koi pond
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2014-07-24
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2009-07-06
Location: West Valley City, UT
Date: 2010-08-08
Location: Marshfield, MA
Date: 2020-07-10
Crocosmia Lucifer Blooms
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2012-06-29
Peeking through the shubbery...
Photo by QueenDreama
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2015
Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2022-07-31
Crocosmia 'Lucifer' - buds before they begin opening
Location: Sun garden Pittsford NY
Date: 2009-07-31
Spectacular color is very intense.This plant is 4 feet tall here.
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Garden - Zone 5
Date: Late July
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-06-27
Location: St Louis
Date: 2014-07-19
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2014-06-03
Location: Washington
Date: 2016-07-03
Location: western Oregon
Date: spring 2014
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-07-10
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-22
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2011-11-12
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA (zone 7b north Geogia mountains)
Date: 2022-10-25
Add a pumpkin to the drying leaves for a great autumn decoration
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2014-06-23
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-07-06
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2006-08-25
  • Uploaded by Joy

Date: 2017-09-09
Photo by QueenDreama
Location: My garden in N E Pa. 
Date: 2014-08-01
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2006-08-11
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: France
Date: August
Photo: JLPC / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Location: My Yard, zone 6
Date: 2022-07-13
Location: Towson, Maryland
Date: 2019-06-28
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2014-09-28
Bulbs on the right are not mother bulbs or tiny baby bulbs.
Location: Garden
Date: 2017-07-22
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2016-08-13
Location: Eagle Bay, New York
Date: 2021-8-4
Crocosmia Lucifer with Monarda Raspberry Wine
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-07-08
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2015-07-08
My yard, zone 6
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-07-10
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2004-08-07
My yard, zone 6
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2013-07-05
Location: Sherwood Oregon 
Date: 2016-07-10
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2014-07-24
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2015-06-26

Courtesy Crownsville Nursery
  • Uploaded by vic
Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2016-06-23
Location: Sherwood, Oregon
Date: 2014-06-01 
My favorite flower
Location: Philo, California
Date: 2014-07-17
Location: Denver Metro CO
Date: 2013-07-24
Location: WI
Date: 2022-07-15
Location: my garden in Dawsonville, GA
Date: 2021-10-29
The drying leaves resemble corn stalks; perfect autumn decor with
Location: Central Kansas (Zone 6b)
Date: 2016-07-26
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Date: 2017-06-27
I would love to have whole clumps of these.
Location: Western Washington
Date: 2018-06-26
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-07-02
Location: Lily fence - full sun
Date: 2014-09-27
Mother bulb with baby attached on the right.
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-07-02
Location: Bea’s garden
Date: 2023-07-09
Location: Bea’s garden
Date: 2023-07-09
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2008-06-21
Location: Starkey,NY
Date: 2011-07-11
Lucifer
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2020-07-25
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-07-02
Ruby Throated Hummingbird on the left side of pic, enjoying the n
Location: central Illinois
Date: 8-24-07
Location: Dearborn Heights, MI
Date: 2015-07-03
My yard, zone 6
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-07-14
Location: Cambridge University Botanic Garden
Date: July
credit: Magnus Manske
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-05-22
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2012-08-05
Location: Kalama, Wa
Date: 2009-07-25
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2018-10-07
Location: My garden in Kentucky
Date: 2006-10-10
Location: Central Kansas (Zone 6b)
Date: 2016-07-26
Location: Central Kansas (Zone 6b)
Date: 2016-07-26
Location: Cedarhome, Washington
Date: 2009-11-19
Fall color
Location: Fountain, Florida
Date: 2009-06-23
Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2016-06-06
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Comments:
  • Posted by BrendaVR (Ontario, Canada - Zone 6a) on Aug 23, 2014 10:00 AM concerning plant:
    Has been doing well in my 6a gardens for 4 years now. I mulched it well the first two years, thinking it may be too tender, but I have not mulched it much for the last two years and it has done fine, both with and without mulch.

    I also scattered some of the seeds last year, immediately after they became ripe, and to my surprise many have come up this spring and are doing well as first-year seedlings (at least the ones below the rock wall, where it stays a bit moister. The ones above the rock wall never came up. Got too dry, I believe). We had a very cold winter with lots of snow, so the snow cover may have helped. Only time will tell how the seedlings' flower colour will turn out. They look like it will take a few years before they are big enough to flower.

    Mine do require a hoop stake to keep them from slouching too much.

    The flowers have stunned the neighbors, and I've been asked what it is and where I got it. It has become one of my favorite flower discoveries/purchases.
  • Posted by Bonehead (Planet Earth - Zone 8b) on Aug 31, 2015 8:48 AM concerning plant:
    This is a very vigorous plant, with a substantial size. In full sun, and given enough space, Lucifer will easily form a vaselike clump 6' tall and wide. Be ruthless in cutting back leaners early so the plant will put its energy into the upright stalks. Be cautioned that if it does not get enough sun, it will lean heavily, take over its neighbor's space, and you may lose the vase effect to just a messy-looking thug. The vivid orange-red flowers are spectacular and are offset nicely with other bold colors (deep golds/purples, even fuchsia). I like Melissa (lemon balm) at the foot of Lucifer, which acts as a bit of support for the strappy leaves. Lucifer multiples freely for me - both by dropping seed and by multiplying. If you have the space for 3 or more clumps spaced around your garden area, your eye will be drawn from one to the other. As others have noted, it is an absolute hummingbird magnet.
  • Posted by valleylynn (Oregon City, OR - Zone 8b) on Nov 25, 2011 1:22 PM concerning plant:
    An Alan Bloom hybrid (Crocosmia x Curtonus)

    Sow the large seeds as soon as they are ripe in a soil-based potting mix. Cultivars sometimes self-sow, but will not come true if they are hybrids.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on Aug 22, 2014 9:31 PM concerning plant:
    Crocosmia 'Lucifer' is a great Crocosmia to grow in the garden. It's the best known of the Crocosmias and the most widely grown in the U.S. When in full bloom, it is a stunning clump of color, especially with the sun shining on the flowers. Deadheading and cutting off faded flowers help to keep the plant putting its energy into making more flowers. Long blooming and easy to grow. The plant grows from corms. It attracts hummingbirds and it's exciting to watch them fly to all the flowers and drink up the nectar. Sometimes hummingbirds are known to rest and preen themselves on the flower stems, so be sure to watch for that. In garden centers in the early summer, gallon-size pots of this glorious flower entice every gardener to purchase them. A fabulous summer flower that belongs in every garden.
  • Posted by gingin (Fountain, Florida - Zone 8b) on Aug 5, 2012 2:03 PM concerning plant:
    The hummers love this plant. It is fun to watch them go to each and every bloom!
  • Posted by krobra (Woodbridge , Va - Zone 7a) on Jul 3, 2015 10:16 PM concerning plant:
    I have tried for 7 or 8 years to get this plant to bloom. It always produces stalks and plenty of offshoots, and last year had a flower stem with buds, but it got chewed up by something and fell off before it ever matured. This year I finally have actual flower blooms on 2 stalks and a whole lot of extra offshoots, more then usual. Only thing I can say I really did differently this year was to water it every other day heavily at the soil. The hummingbirds seem to enjoy the flowers, as do I. It was a long time from bulb planting to actual flowering for me, but it is a very pretty flower and a hardy plant that has come back year after year in my zone. I look forward to the day when I have an army of them blooming.
Plant Events from our members
flaflwrgrl On January 31, 2015 Plant emerged
They are up! The foliage varies from around 1/2" high to 3" high at this point.
flaflwrgrl On November 24, 2014 Miscellaneous Event
Planted in various places.
flaflwrgrl On November 21, 2014 Obtained plant
In trade from Betsy. Around 25 bulbs - I didn't count them.
Catmint20906 On July 10, 2015 Bloomed
christine2 On May 5, 2017 Transplanted
christine2 On June 1, 2014 Obtained plant
3, <
christine2 On May 1, 2008 Obtained plant
3
CottageGardener On June 20, 2017 Obtained plant
Buzzbea424 On June 27, 2017 Bloomed
MissMew On July 26, 2018 Obtained plant
Suzanne VDM
SuperHappyCamper On February 10, 2022 Obtained plant
Purchased at Costco.
MuseLea On May 2, 2022 Obtained plant
The Plant Man
DeweyRooter On February 9, 2023 Obtained plant
Received box of corms from Lori.
DeweyRooter On February 9, 2023 Transplanted
Planted corms in front of the house (near Black Pearl amaryllis) and in large driveway bed.
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Too impatient by eclayne Nov 11, 2011 4:15 PM 1
Great pic. by eclayne Feb 28, 2012 3:03 PM 1
Pretty! by plantladylin Dec 16, 2015 10:57 AM 2

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