Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Lucifer crocosmia, red crocosmia (Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer').
More about crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer'
About Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer'
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' · also called Lucifer crocosmia, red crocosmia · flowering
Crocosmia 'Lucifer' is the boldest and hardiest montbretia, throwing arching sprays of intense flame-red flowers on tall stems above pleated sword-shaped foliage in mid to late summer. A vigorous corm-forming perennial holding the RHS Award of Garden Merit, it forms dramatic clumps in sun or light shade and is irresistible to hummingbirds and bees.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Few flowers in shade or congestion: Overcrowded clumps and too little sun produce leaves but few spikes; divide every two to three years and give full sun.
The reasons crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:
- Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
- Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
- The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
- Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
- It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.
Feeding crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
The fix — how to get crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' to flower
- Maximise sun. Give crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
- Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
- Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
- Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.
Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' and get the feeding right with the crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.
Bloom season and what to expect
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
Post-bloom care so it flowers again
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' flower?
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
How do I make crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' bloom?
Give crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
When does crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' normally bloom?
Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' after it flowers?
Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' flowering?
Feeding crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'lucifer' a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Crocosmia × crocosmiiflora 'Lucifer' fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 2023 bloom guides in the Growli library