Firecracker Flower – Purple

Dichelostemma congestum

Characteristics

Culture

Densely-flowered clusters of lilac-purple florets perch atop virtually leafless, 24″ stems, making Purple Firecracker Flower an ideal variety for adding movement to the landscape. With just the slightest breeze, the lovely, silver dollar sized flowers will start swaying and dancing elegantly in the garden! The delicate, light purplish-blue blossoms are long-lasting and accented by a deeply notched crown surrounding the stamen. When given full sunlight and drier conditions, you can expect their happy arrival between late Spring and mid-Summer.

Noteworthy Characteristics

The common name for this wonderful native bulb is Naked Lady or Cluster Lily. Stems bear 6 to 15 showy purple flowers clustered at the stem tip. This happy bulb spreads to form colonies in time. It will also spread by seed. Excellent cut flower that lasts a week in a vase. Water to establish when planting from containers. In subsequent years it will rely only on what falls from the sky. In habitat it can be found with native clumping grasses. The flowers do not nod on the stems as other closely related species do.  Small grassy foliage appears in early spring and disappears cleanly following bloom. Adapted to heavy clay soils that are wet for 6 months of the year that dries in summer.

Problems

No known diseases or insect pests.

Garden Uses

Cottage gardens, Informal gardens. Beds. Borders. Containers. Cut Flowers.