Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ is the free plant for the Spring 2025 plant fair.

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ is a popular montbretia variety known for its vibrant red flowers and attractive, arching foliage. It’s a show-stopping perennial that blooms from late summer into autumn, offering a bold display of colour and attracting pollinators.

A cormous, herbaceous perennial with a robust and very upright growing habit up to 5′ (1.6m) tall when in flower. It has mid-green, pleated blade-like leaves and arching deep red flower stems bearing glowing orange, tubular flowers that have a paler orange throat, from mid to late summer. It is an impactful and reliable flowerer that can grow in shade or dry conditions.

Corms should be planted in moderately fertile, humus rich soil approximately 4″ (10cm) deep and 3-4″ (7.5–10cm) apart in groups to form clumps. Water if it is a dry season as a lack of water reduces flowering.

Propagate by division in early spring when clumps become congested or by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe.

Planting locations include: cottage and informal garden, coastal, flower borders and beds.

Suffolk Plant Heritage gives away a free plant, bulb or seeds at our plant fairs as part of its active conservation work. Anyone in Suffolk can grow little known but worthwhile garden plants and help secure their survival for the future. Wide distribution of a plant is the best form of conservation.Suffolk Plant Heritage runs plant propagation workshops and sells unusual plants at various events.