About
A cormous perennial with narrow, upright leaves to 30cm long. In spring and early summer it produces stems, to about 45cm, bearing small clusters of red, orange or purple, widely-funnel-shaped flowers with yellow centres surrounded by black or dark red marks.
About the genus
Sparaxis are cormous perennials forming a fan-shaped tuft of linear or narrowly lance-shaped leaves, with funnel-shaped flowers borne in loose spikes
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureWell-drained
AspectWest-facing, South-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeConservatory Greenhouse, Bulbs
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0-0.1 metre
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesPatio and container plants, Mediterranean climate plants
Native toSouth Africa (Cape)
Care notes
CultivationGrow under glass in good light but shaded from hot sun. In autumn, plant corms 20cm deep in peat-free, loam-based potting compost with added sand and leaf mould. Water sparingly when in growth and keep cool; dry off as flowers fade and keep completely dry when dormant
PruningRemove spent flower stems and allow foliage to die down naturally
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in containers in a cold frame as soon as ripe or remove offsets when dormant
Pest resistanceGenerally problem free
Disease resistanceGenerally problem free