This was the only Crocosmia to come up. That's a 90% failure rate!
Last May, I wrote excitedly about my purchase of 10 Crocosmia Lucifer from Brent and Beck’s bulbs. At the same time, I also bought 10 anemone coronaria De Caen in red, white and blue colors – or at least, that’s what I thought I was buying.
I received my order, which was shipped promptly, and planted everything right away.
I was prepared to have no crocosmia flowers this summer, because I know they need time to mature. But of the 10 corms, only 3 came up at all – and yes, I followed the planting instructions that came with my order. Now, there is only a single plant. It is blooming, but I don’t even see leaves for the other nine. I had expected most of them to at least come up. Wouldn’t you?
The next bummer was the anemone. When the plants began flowering, I first noticed that they were NOT red white and blue, but all dark pink. To top it off, they were the double St. Brigid cultivar (which I do not like), not De Caen.
I emailed Brent and Beck’s over a month ago, and I never received a reply. I hate when that happens.
Digging RI 
How disappointing. I had a similar disappointment. I planted some Peruvian lilies this year. They came up, but no flowers. Now they’re just composting themselves.
This was a rough year weather-wise, though, so maybe next year..
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Don’t you think that at least half of the crocosmia should have come up, though? And as for the mix-up with the anemone – inexcusable.
I don’t know much about Peruvian lilies. I think I remember my aunt growing some in a container, and they were gorgeous.
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At least you got a bloom!!! And it’s GLORIOUS! Hehe.
Before I had consulted the Garden Watchdog I had made a purchase from The Bulb Lady [boo… hiss…] which included ten corms. Only five bucks, so not a terrible deal, but sadly only four of them ever sprouted and they are small and pitiful.
Maybe the rest are… ‘resting’?
I’m going to hardcore mulch them and then wait for next year.
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I think there are huge variations in the quality of bulbs. That said, I have paid big bucks for bulbs that were ok but not great, and then bought a sack of cheap ones that were awesome, so it has to be about more than size and price.
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