Summer Blooming Bulbs: Fire King Crocosmia
Brilliant Red Blooms Light Up Your Garden
General Information
Fire King Crocosmia stands 24 inches tall. Foliage is dark green, sword shaped, and appears before the flower stalks. The tubular flowers of Fire King Crocosmia are brilliant fire red, hence the name. Flowers start out orange and mature to a brilliant red. Once the plant is in full bloom, the stalks tend to arch over slightly. Some plants may require support from a frame or stake.
This plant is a perennial grown from bulbs. The bulb stores food for the plant until it starts to send up leaves and roots. Every year a new bulblet will be formed from the original bulb. Both should stay viable over winter with proper care. The scientific name for Fire King Crocosmia is Crocosmia crocosmiiflora.
Care
Plant Fire King Crocosmia bulbs in the spring. The pointy part of the bulb should face up. Add one teaspoon of bone meal to the planting hole. There is no need to water. Cut spent blooms before they form seed heads. This will allow the plant to store important nutrients in the bulbs in order to survive the winter. In the fall, cut back the foliage after it turns yellow. Lift the entire bulb out of the ground prior to winter. Pack the bulbs in straw or sawdust and store in a dark dry place where temperatures are around 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hardiness
Fire King Crocosmia is hardy from USDA Hardiness Zones 5a to 9b. This range covers most of the continental United States. If the bulbs are lifted and stored out of the ground for the winter, then you can grow them pretty much anywhere. South of zone 9b, plant in the fall for spring bloom.
Where to Find Them
Some local garden shops may carry Fire King Crocosmia in the early spring. If you are unable to locate them locally, ask your garden center if they can order them for you. Another option is to purchase them from online sources.
Published by Lynda Altman
Lynda Altman is a freelance writer, blogger and researcher. Her experience includes published print articles in Family Chronicle Magazine, writing and researching for private clients, and writing online cont... View profile
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- Fire King Crocosmia has brilliant red flowers.
- The bulbs are planted in spring for summer blooms.
- Gardeners in tropical climates should plant them in fall for spring blooms.