Lucifer
A widely grown crocosmia with bright red flowers and good garden vigour.
When to plant Crocosmia in London
Crocosmia spp.
Hardy perennial grown from corms in UK borders. Plant in moist but free-draining soil in sun or light shade, water well after planting, and leave the clump to settle before lifting and dividing every few years.
90 cm · Full Sun · Moderate Water
Calibrated to London · last frost ≈ 4 Apr
| Activity | January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plant out | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Growing guide
What to do through the growing season
01
Plant Corms
21 Feb to 21 MarPlant corms during 21st February - 21st March, deep and apart, in firm, well-drained soil. Water in thoroughly straight after planting.
02
Water to Establish
21 Feb to 2 May Dates as each sowing reaches this stageKeep the soil evenly moist through 21st February - 2nd May while the corms root in. Give a deep soak in dry spells, then ease off once new growth is strong and the clump is settled.
03
Deadhead Spent Stems
19 May to 10 NovFrom 19th May, remove faded flower stems as they finish to keep the plant tidy and encourage a longer display. Cut each stem back to the base once the last flowers on it have gone over.
04
Cut Back Old Growth
17 Nov to 15 DecAfter hard frost has blackened the leaves, cut the faded foliage to the base during 17th November - 15th December. Leave any green leaves in place until they die back naturally, because they are feeding next year's growth.
Suggested varieties
Popular varieties of Crocosmia to consider
Emily McKenzie
Compact, free-flowering with orange blooms marked darker at the centre.
George Davidson
A reliable yellow-flowered cultivar that works well in mixed borders.
Star of the East
Orange-yellow flowers on arching stems, useful for a naturalistic look.
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Crocosmia guides by town
See how Crocosmia timing shifts in other towns with different frost dates.