Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’

Crocosmias don’t seem to have had a very good press; it may be because people still think of those skinny, weedy plants that grow in hedgerows and banks in the West Country and throughout Ireland.  But there has been a considerable breeding programme going on for quite a while and the plants are now magnificent, and to my mind, a mainstay of the late summer border, although they sometimes takes a year or so to settle down and flower, having what Christopher Lloyd called ‘the debutante syndrome’.

Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’, T&M

The name Crocosmia comes from the Greek; krokos (saffron) and osme (odour) which seemingly is released from the rehydrated flowers – not that I’ve tried it) 

Several original species arrived from South Africa and were hybridised in the late nineteenth century by the prolific French breeder Victor Lemoine (who did so much for lilacs, amongst other species). He created Crocosmia x crocosmiifolia which became known by the somewhat catchier name of Montbretia. The story then moves to Norfolk, where the Earlham hybrids were created, and then to Bressingham, where Alan Bloom bred the wonderful ‘Lucifer’ in the late 1960s (gaining an AGM in 1993) and re-invigorated the interest in these neglected plants.

The Earlham hybrids started when George Davison, head gardener at Westwick Hall in Norfolk,  developed the next generation of Crocosmia after Lemoine. The most popular being the eponymous George Davison (AGM 1902), Lady Hamilton and Star of the East. In 1905 Prometheus also won an Award of Merit.  In 1908 George donated his collection of hybrids to Sidney Morris who later became the head gardener at Earlham Hall. Breeding continued and the collection grew throughout the First World War and umpteen mishaps until the 1930s, when they became very popular with the likes of Lawrence Johnston at Hidcote, and E.A. Bowles.

But the springboard for modern interest came in the 1960s when Alan Bloom  at Bressingham Gardens set about creating hybrids for hardiness. The spectacular ‘Lucifer’ was introduced in 1966 and became available a few years later. It makes its appearance known from its very first entrance in the spring with bright green spears which become the most handsome bold and architectural pleated foliage, easily reaching as tall as me (well I know that isn’t so much).  When the flower sprays start to form its hard to imagine that they have not been created by an artist, and then the flowers unfurl a brilliant and fiery red, lasting for ages until they are replaced by attractive seed heads. On the down side there is a tendency to leaf rust if the plants don’t get enough moisture in the growing season, but I think that they’re worth looking after,  as they are easily one of my top five favourite garden plants.

‘Lucifer’ may have a devilish name but it’s a divine plant, and a far-cry from that old escapee in the hedgerow.