Description

A most colourful flowering bulb with strikingly spotted cup shaped flower centres and 3 bold outer petals in red, orange, pink or yellow. The flowers are short lived, usually each lasting only a day, but they make up for this by blooming in succession for many weeks during summer. The flowers are produced on erect stems up to a height of 50cm above sword shaped leaves arranged in a fan. They will grow best outdoors in sub-tropical to warm temperate climates, but will also perform well in a warmed greenhouse in colder climates.

Cultivation

Tigridia are sub-tropical plants, but will tolerate light frosts in the garden and should be grown in full sun in moist, well drained soil. In cooler areas, the corms should be lifted after the foliage has died down, dried and then stored during their winter dormancy or grown in containers that can be given shelter over winter. Prepare the growing site by digging over the soil and adding a good handful of blood and bone or rich compost prior to planting out. Plant the bulbs 8 to 10cm deep and 15 to 20cm apart after any danger of frost has passed. Water in well at planting time and ensure that the soil is kept moist at all times there after. No particular pests or diseases.