Do you recognize this flower?

16 years ago

I was visiting a friend this evening and I found a flower in her garden I never saw before. The erect leaves stand about 20" tall with a shape of an iris leaf, but these leaves did not seem as dense as the iris leaf. They felt more 'papery', but it has been so dry here that they might need water. The flowers are in clusters with approx. three clusters to a stem which reach 36" tall. The flowers are tube shaped and are in a line up the stem starting about 24"-30" from the base (similar to the form of a bleeding heart). They are a bright red orange, and about an 1" long. They really look like they would be a hummingbird magnet, and they were very pretty swaying in the breeze. My friend said they came from bulbs, but I am not positive she knows the difference from a bulb, rhizome, etc.

There were at least 10 hummingbirds flying around, but it looked like they were mainly drinking from her feeders.

I did a lot of searching, but found nothing that looked like this plant. If need be, I can take a photo tomorrow.

Thank you. Jane

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Comments (5)

janepa
Original Author
16 years ago
I found it after some more searching. It is Crocosmia. If you do not know this plant take a look in Dave's Garden for it's great reviews. I definitely want to add this plant to my garden.

Thank you. Jane
luvtoogarden
16 years ago
I have this flower in my garden. It is very beautiful and the hummingbirds do seem to love it. It does multiply, but I just move them to a different area if they come up where I don't want them...as you dig them up you often find more bulbs. I have had them for 2 years and this year they bloomed like crazy. Last year they didn't bloom so much...not sure why.
Tarilyn
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mbuckmaster
16 years ago
Great bulb; 'Lucifer' is in my garden and used regularly by my hummers.
AmeliaD
16 years ago
Wish we lived closer - I have LOTS of crocosmia - it really spreads but I love it - I pull up and throw away dozens every year. Here in S. Alabama, they bloom mid to late summer - but are blooming earlier than usual this year. It has been a crazy year - weather-wise.
hummersteve
16 years ago
I also have crocosmia lucifer in my garden and I have seen hummers use it but sparingly, they use more for a perch than anything. It may be short lived in my garden a I dont like the short blooming period.