Dichelostemma ida-maia 'Pink Diamond'
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syn. Brodiaea ida-maia
PINK FIRECRACKER FLOWER, IDA MAY'S SNAKELILY
Family: Liliaceae
Pronounced: dy-kel-OH-stem-uh
GROWING GUIDE
Geographic Origin:
Garden.
Plant Group:
Bulbs.
Hardiness:
Sunset zones: Not listed.
USDA zones: 6-11.
Heat zones: 8-5.
Mature size:
Height: 8-12 inches (20-30 cm).
Flowering period:
Late spring to mid summer.
Flowering attributes:
Umbels bearing 6 to 20 tubular, deep pink flowers that reflex at the end.
Leaf attributes:
Three, 20-inch long, green leaves grow up from the corms.
Light:
Full sun to light shade..
Soil:
Summer dry, well-drained soil.
Feeding:
None.
Propagation Methods:
Dig up and separate offsets in late summer.
Pests and Diseases:
Rust may be a problem.
Rainy Side Notes
A hybrid of our Northwest native, ‘Pink Diamond’ also requires dry soil after it flowers while it is dormant. In southwestern Oregon and Northwestern California, the species naturally grows on grassy slopes and open woodlands. The firecracker flower is an excellent choice for a drought garden, which receives no supplemental water during our dry summers. The leaves die down before the bulb flowers after which the plant goes dormant.
I made the mistake of keeping my first plants moist in their pots and lost them. My new plants now reside in a part of the garden where the only moisture they receive falls from the sky. This is truly a low maintenance plant, pop them in the ground four inches deep, cover and forget about them, until they are in full bloom and they grandly make their presence known. This is the best kind of firecracker, an explosion of color without a resounding boom!
Debra Teachout-Teashon
Photographed in author's garden.
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