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Deadheading Lucifer

NollieNollie Posts: 7,032
in Plants
 My Crocosmia Lucifer was great this year but it thinks it’s all over. Is it a one flush wonder or will it come back with deadheading?

If so, where exactly do I deadhead it? Do I cut the flowered stems right back to the ground or just to where the flower stalk meets the leaves? Not really sure if and where to cut as the flower stalks seem fairly well embedded in the upper leaves, if you know what I mean!


Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.

Posts

  • LG_LG_ Posts: 4,107
    Mine are all but over too. I've never tried deadheafing (I rather like the seedheads) but it's an interesting idea.
    'If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.'
    - Cicero
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,892
    Only flowers once, if you like the seed heads, leave them ifyou don’t, cut right back to the ground. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,035
    i would remove the flower spike if you don't want seeds, but do not cut it down to the ground because it cannot photosynthesise without leaves, so you will only weaken it.
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    Wouldn't it be best to allow the leaves to die back naturally to feed the corms? When I had Lucifers they were in a border which were some distance from the house, and popped through other shrubs.  There was no access to them and they died down by themselves. I always had an exceptional show as they multiplied every year. The leaves were removed in autumn/winter. 
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,032
    Ok, thanks all, one hit wonder then. I don’t think I want it seeding everywhere as it’s already pretty boisterous, so will whip off the seed heads. They are attractive but invisible most of the time at the far end of the border.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Joy*Joy* Posts: 571
    They are more likely to multiply from the corms than from seed.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,032
    Hi Joy, true, they have spread about a huge amount from new corms only planted last year, I just didn’t think about Alan’s point that they may spread via seeds too. I suspect it’s one of those plants that is intent on world domination, it must like the heat here. My Emily McKensie has done the same, that’s meant to be a well behaved one!
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • LynLyn Posts: 21,892
    Definitely leave the leaves on it until they die down, when they do, the best thing is to pull them not cut them.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 21,695
    Oh, I read that so I tried pulling the dry, dead, brown leaves off but that pulled the corms out of the ground so I cut them.
    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,032
    I have just cut the flowering stalks off for now and will let it die back naturally before I cut it back. Thanks all.
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
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