Lachenalia - Quadricolour

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Common Name(s): NA 

Native to: South Africa

Flowering: Spring

Watering: Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth.

Planting Aspect: Full Sun, Part Shade

Preferred Climate:

 

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Description

Unusual colour mix of maroon, orange, yellow, green and crimson rainbow like nodding, tubular flowers stand erect above long, narrow and marbled, strap like foliage. Massed in clumps or planted in pots and window boxes, Lachenalia make a striking display of flowering stems somewhat resembling small Hyacinths. Each bulb will produce as many as 3 to 4 flowering spikes in winter through to spring and will often last for 6 to 8 weeks depending on the growing location.

Cultivation

Select an open, sunny position, but with afternoon shade in very hot locations and protection from frost in winter.The soil should be free draining but moisture retentive. Prepare the growing site by digging over the soil and adding a good handful of blood and bone, rich compost or well decayed animal manure prior to planting out. Plant the bulbs 5cm deep and 5 to 7cm apart. Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth. Discontinue watering altogether when the leaves begin to die back and keep them completely dry during the dormant season. Bulb clumps will multiply freely and should be left undisturbed for a number of years. A general fertiliser need only be applied if the soil is particularly poor. Protect them from snails, slugs and aphids.