Tritonia
Blazing star
- Height × spread
- 0.2m – 1.2m × 0.3m – 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
These plants originate in South Africa. There are around 28 species of them, and these include a good number of cultivars. Only a few of these are seen in gardens. They are handsome plants with long sword-like leaves and flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow and pink. They are unlikely to be hardy except in the warmer parts of the country. Tritonia disticha can reach a metre or so in height but many forms are between 20 cm and 50 cm in height. They flower at different seasons, from spring to late summer. This is much confused with similar plants that include crocosmia and chasmanthe.
- Flower colour
- Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 0.2m – 1.2m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Indoors, Gravel garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil, Dry soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, most are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Hazards
- No
AutumnNow
Autumn - mid · Planting
Divide while dormant
Clumps of bulbs, corms or rhizomes can be divided when the plant is dormant. The divided bulbs or corms can immediately be replanted at a little distance from each other, or moved to other locations.
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring · Planting
Repot yearly
Repot yearly if grown in a pot. Move it to a slightly larger pot with drainage holes. Some of the old compost can be shaken away, but don't disturb the roots too much.
Be careful to ensure the roots are spread out in the new pot, and that the plant is sitting on compost and not an air pocket. Firm the soil gently, and make sure that the plant sits at the same level above the soil as it did previously.