Lee's red flowers are Crocosmia "Lucifer" - thank you readers

Crocosmia Lucifer

By Diane Hettrick

Thank you to all the readers who identified Lee Lageschulte's lovely and dramatic red flowers.

Martin Kral said "It's a crocosmia, variety 'Lucifer'. The cultivar is taller than most crocosmias and also much brighter red than the usually yellow or dark rust standard varieties. It grows easily, is undemanding, and attracts hummingbirds."

Chris Gaston sent a link and said they are also called montbretia. Judith Muilenburg agreed and commented that she prefers the orange.

Thank you to Deirdre Miller, JM, Randi, Jerry Pickard, Cathy Floit, Melissa Banker, Scott Francis, Travis, Rose Thygesen, Brenda Kent, Donna Eggen, Krista Tenney, Judy Bauer, Nancy Utter, Cheryl Workman, Regina, a couple of anonymous comments, and anyone I might have missed.

One person sent the results of a Google search. Many people commented that they had the red and orange varieties in their yards and several said they wanted more.

Johanna Warness said that "I got a few bulbs from a woman who was going to throw them away about 20 years ago and now I have them all over my yard - the hummingbirds love them."

Some of the other comments:

• A bright and colorful addition to the garden.
• They do best in full sun.
• Red and orange
• Fred Meyer had some on sale - would love to have some more!
• Hummingbirds love them!
• My mom calls this Devils Tongue.
• It "naturalizes" which means if you start with 5 in a couple of years you will have 15-20... 
• The common variety is more orange. 
• They are good looking and hummingbirds and bees like them but you got to watch the runs on these things. They will take over your garden. -- Anonymous

I was going to say how surprised I was that so many people had the plant because I was sure I had never seen one before Lee's photo. Then I noticed that my neighbor, two doors down, has one planted right at the street.