Sparaxis

Family. Iridaceae.

Origin. South Africa.

Description. Sparaxis is a low bulbous plant with very bright flowers, painted in several tones. The bulbs are small, light, up to 1.5 cm in diameter. The leaves are basal, narrow, oblong, green, 10–35 cm long. The peduncles are tall, strong, each has 1–2 leaves and bears 1–3 flowers at the top. Flowers are 5 - 8 cm in diameter, with 6 petals, in various shades of white, yellow, red, orange, pink. The center of the flowers is usually painted in a contrasting shade - yellow, purple or red. 

Height. 10 - 40 cm.

Planting and care

Growing at home 

Do not remove drying leaves after flowering - they continue to feed the bulbs. 

Reproduction

Propagation by seeds is quite easy, but the first time sparaxis will bloom only 2 years after planting. Daughter bulbs that often appear around the large mother bulb.

Soil for growing in a pot 

A well-drained mixture of coarse river sand, garden soil and leaf humus. 

When blooms 

May June.

Containment temperature

When grown indoors, it loves warmth - after planting, the bush is kept at a temperature of over 20 °C. After flowering and the death of the above-ground part, the bulbs are removed from the soil and stored in a cool, dry place.

Lighting

A well-lit place with shade on hot summer days.

Watering

Abundant watering is necessary for sparaxis during the growing season. Allow the substrate to dry out between waterings. After the ground part dies, watering is reduced to a minimum.

Fertilizer

During the growth period, feed once a month with liquid fertilizers for flowering plants.

Spraying

If the air in the room is too dry, place the flower pot on a tray with wet pebbles or surround it with a layer of wet sphagnum. Spraying can be done in the morning, trying to prevent drops of moisture from falling on the flowers and buds. Sparaxis prefers places with good air circulation.

Transfer

Every year, the bulbs are planted in fresh soil, in deep pots with large drainage holes. The planting depth is usually 3 times the height of the bulbs. 

Diseases and pests

Bulbs rot if there is insufficient drainage.  Mealybugs, aphids, spider mites, thrips. When grown in open ground, mole crickets may attack the flower. 

Purpose

Sparaxis can be successfully used as a forcing species. The first shoots appear 2-3 months after planting the bulbs.

Varieties:

Sparaxis tricolor

A perennial herbaceous bulbous plant, 15 to 30 cm high, with long, green, belt-shaped leaves with longitudinal venation. Peduncles are thin, leafless, each bears 1 - 3 flowers. A distinctive feature of the variety are bright tricolor buds in shades of orange, red, yellow, with a dark brown stripe in the center.