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Free Sparaxis PlantsSparaxis also known as Harlequin Flower or Wand Flower is a bulb flower which is perennial and produces a stalk of five star-shaped, brightly coloured flowers. This variety of bulb plants was first found in South Africa. It has flowers in different shades of white, yellow, orange, red, lavender and purple decorated with a bright yellow throat and black outline, hence it has the common name Harlequin Flower. Late spring or early summer is the flowering season of these plants. It has sword shaped leaves and flowers arise on wiry stalks. The leaves perish soon after flowering.• Native to South Africa • Sparaxis grows up to 6-12 inches tall (15-30 cm) and 3-5 inches wide (7-12 cm). • It is perennial in nature. • Harlequin requires sunlight and water so keep it in full sun and water regularly. • It requires only very less amount of fertilizer. • Sparaxis plants are good choice for Mediterranean climate. It is appropriate for rock gardens and for pot cultivation. • Fresh cut flower is an important characteristic of this plants. • This plant is easy to maintain and adapts easily. • Highly disease and pest resistant. Sparaxis is a genus and has fifteen species under the Iridaceae family. These varieties grow well in the Mediterranean climates and have got different colourful hybrids. Bright coloured star-shaped flowers are the most attractive thing about sparaxis. If more than one sparaxis species is grown together, cross pollination may take place resulting in flowers with different colour combinations. Even though these plants are highly disease resistant sometimes virus affects them and cause colour fading in flowers. DIFFERENT SPECIES OF SPARAXIS 1. Sparaxis tricolor Common Name : Harlequin Flower Stem height : 12 to 30 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical/ scented Colour : Flower – Bi/Tri-coloured (Red) Throat- Golden/Black Corms : Conical with tunics of fine fibres Flowering : September to October 2. Sparaxis grandiflora Common Name : Grand Satinflower/ Cape Buttercup Stem height : 8 to 45 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical/ scented Colour : Flower - White/ Yellow tinged with Purple Corms : Spherical with fine fibrous outer coating Flowering : March to April 3. Sparaxis auriculata Common Name : Ear Satinflower Stem height : 15 to 40 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical flower/ unscented Colour : Flower - Cream Dorsal tepal - mauve Lower tepal - yellow Throat - grey/purple Corms : Conical with tunics of medium-textured fibres Flowering : August 4. Sparaxis bulbifera Common Name : Airleaf Satinflower Stem height : 15 to 60 cm Flower : Tubular flower/ unscented Colour : Flower - White/Cream : Throat - Pale Yellow Corms : Capsules turning from light green to brown on maturation Flowering : September to December 5. Sparaxis calcicola Common Name : Limestone Satinflower Stem height : 12 to 22 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical/ lemon scented Colour : Flower - White/Yellow Dorsal tepal - Creamy White Lower tepal - Yellow Corms : Conical with tunics of fine fibres Flowering : August to September 6. Sparaxis villosa Common Name : Hairy Satinflower Stem height : 15 to 35 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical flower/ unscented Colour : Flower – Cream/ Yellow Corms : Coarsely fibrous and thickened tunics Flowering : August to September 7. Sparaxis caryophyllacea Common Name : Speckle Satinflower Stem height : 12 to 30 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical/ scented Colour : Flower - Pale Yellow Dorsal tepal - Violet/ Cream Lower tepal - Deep Yellow Throat- Yellow Corms : Vertical with tunics of hard coarse fibres Flowering : August to September 8. Sparaxis elegans Common Name : Elegant Satinflower Stem height : 10 to 30 cm Flower : Radially symmetrical/ unscented Colour : Flower - Salmon orange - Pink /White Throat- Purple/ Dark Brown Corms : Round corm with fine fibrous outer coating Flowering : August to September 9. Sparaxis fragrans Common Name : Fragrant Wandflower Stem height : 10 to 25 cm Flower : Radially symmetrical/ unpleasant scent Colour : Flower - Yellow Corms : Barrel shaped seed capsules Flowering : August to September 10. Sparaxis galeata Common Name : Hood Satinflower Stem height : 12 to 20 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical/ scented Colour : Flower - Yellow/Purple Dorsal tepal - Purple Lower tepal - Deep Yellow Throat- Yellow/Purple Corms : Conical with tunics of medium-textured fibres Flowering : July to September 11. Sparaxis parviflora Common Name : Tiny Satinflower Stem height : 12 to 20 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical/ scented Colour : Flower - Cream Lateral tepal – Lemon Yellow Corms : Conical with tunics of medium-textured fibres Flowering : August to September 12. Sparaxis variegata Common Name : Variegated Satinflower Stem height : 10 to 18 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical/ scented Colour : Flower - Cream/Purple Dorsal tepal - Purple Lower tepal - Cream Throat- Yellow/Purple Corms : Coarsely fibrous corm tunics Flowering : August to September 13. Sparaxis maculosa Common Name : Darkcentre Satinflower Stem height : 10 to 20 cm Flower : Radially symmetrical/ unscented Colour : Flower - Yellow Throat- Dark Maroon Corms : Spherical with dense white fibres Flowering : September 14. Sparaxis pillansii Common Name : Twisted Satinflower Stem height : 25 to 44 cm Flower : Radially symmetrical flower/ unscented Colour : Flower - Rose Pink Center- Yellow & Dark Purple Red Corms : Tunics with fine fibres Flowering : September to October 15. Sparaxis roxburghii Common Name : Collar Satinflower Stem height : 28 to 45 cm Flower : Bilaterally symmetrical flower/ unscented Colour : Flower - Mauve/Yellow Throat- Yellow Corms : Finely fibrous corm tunics Flowering : August to September SPARAXIS FLOWER GARDENING Sparaxis flowers in spring at lower temperatures. These plants are tender to frost unlike some other bulb plants. Thus, Mediterranean climates with low frost are the most favorable condition for the outdoor cultivation of these plants. Even though these flowers are wild flowers found in South Africa, nowadays these are widely used as ornamental plants in other places too. Under ideal growth conditions, these plants easily adapt and naturalize. Harlequin flower bulbs growing outside South Africa is limited in number. Gardeners must pay special care while planting these varieties in order to get good results. In USDA zones 9-1, autumn is a good time for planting these plants outdoors. Outside these areas, it is better to grow it initially in pots and can move it to outside when the spring comes. Or you can wait until it is spring to plant the corms. These bulbs should never be planted outside until the winter is over. Plant corms 3 inches deep (7 cm) and 2 inches apart (5 cm) in the autumn (warm winter regions) or in the spring (in cold regions). Fertile and well-drained lands are suitable for sparaxis varieties, thus choose such planting spots to get good results. Sparaxis plants need ample amount of sunlight so avoid shaded regions and choose places where the plants can get full sun. Though the plants are generally highly diseases and pests resistant, monitoring for potential issues is a good preventative growing practice. Check the health of the plant in due time and ensure everything is alright. Once the flowers are dead, remove the spent flowers by deadheading. Leave the foliage to die naturally and undergo dormancy during summer. In cold regions it is better to dig out these bulbs and store safely until next spring to replant it. After the dormancy, the bulb will sprout again and blooms when the season comes. This cycle continues every year. |
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