Question
Mystery Flower
Attached are pictures of a colorful plant. It's leaves are swordlike in clusters like an iris but it's flowers are puzzling. The flowers alternate from a single stem. When viewed from above, the flower arrangement is heart-shaped. the flowers are six petaled, about 1" -2" long and look like a lily. The flower base is orange with the rest of the flower being red. It is growing in partial shade in Zone 6. It was planted last year and this is the first year of flowering. The identifying tag can't be read. Hope you can help.
AnswerHi Ed,
Thanx for your question. The plant looks like Crocosmia, maybe the 'Lucifer' cultivar. Crocosmia are not reliably hardy in Zone 6 but some will overwinter. I've had them overwinter a couple years and then disappear. If you are in the warmer half of Zone 6 then you're probably okay. Many people in Zone 6 and cooler, lift the corms in the fall and store them in the basement for the winter. These plants are related to the iris. I hope this helps.
Tom
