Dichelostemma ida-maia

Common Names

Firecracker Flower, Californian Firecracker, Crimson Californian Hyacinth, Crimson Satin Flower, Floral Firecracker, Vegetable Firecracker

Summary

Firecracker Flower is a native, cormous perennial from northern California and southern Oregon, growing on forest edges, woodlands, and coastal meadows. It features tall slender stems supporting an umbel of 6–20 tubular crimson flowers with green tips, blossoms that may hang at bloom and later stand erect as fruit forms, and a clump-forming habit with offsets expanding the clump to about 30–60 cm in height.

Culture favors full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil, with drought tolerance and a requirement for a dry summer dormancy; plant in fall about 3 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart, water after planting and moderately in spring, and avoid soggy soils; propagate by seed or offsets; hardy in zones 5–8; suitable for borders, rock gardens, and containers, and it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies in landscapes.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

1-3.5 feet

Spread

1-4 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 5-8

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained loam or sandy soil, slightly acidic to neutral.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil; avoid waterlogged conditions

Soil pH

6.0-8.0, Slightly acidic to slightly alkaline, Tolerates alkaline or neutral soils

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Time

Spring to Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Fall Foliage Color

Medium green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow-growing; spreads slowly to form a 3 ft clump.

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Division (offsets and daughter corms/cormlets)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds and birds