Tritonia

Family: Iridaceae

Common Name(s): Flame Freesia 

Native to: South Africa

Flowering: Spring

Watering: Provide moisture during the growing season and withhold all water when the leaves die down and let the bulbs go dormant.

Planting Aspect: Full Sun, Part Shade

Preferred Climate:

 

Temperate, Grassland

Description

Tritonia have branched flower spikes of orange or cream that emerge from the centre of the sword shaped leaves with at least 6 flowers per stem, arranged alternately. They will flower to a height of 50cm over a long period in warm weather and are ideally planted in bold groups for the sunny border. Tritonia are marginally frost hardy and will do best in warm/temperate climates. They will survive quite well in most soils provided that drainage is adequate.

Cultivation

Corms should be planted 5cm deep by 10 to 15cm apart in a well drained soil in a sunny, sheltered position. Good drainage is important or the bulbs will suffer rot problems. Tritonia are marginally frost hardy and so in extremely cold locations the bulbs should either be lifted and stored over winter or the growing site protected with a covering layer of mulch. Provide moisture during the growing season and withhold all water when the leaves die down and let the bulbs go dormant. Apply side applications of fertiliser if grown in hungry soil or they will flower poorly. Tritonia have no specific pest or disease problems.