Sparaxis tricolor
Harlequin flower (Sparaxis tricolor) is a perennial. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -7 °C. Drought tolerance: medium.
Not winter hardy: the corms freeze outdoors, so treat it like a gladiolus. Plant in spring, from late April to mid May, 5 to 8 cm deep and 8 to 10 cm apart, then lift the corms at the end of summer once the foliage has yellowed and died back, dry and clean them, and store them dry, airy and frost-free until the following spring. It is a South African corm with sword-shaped leaves and vivid three-coloured flowers: red, orange, purple or white petals with a dark ring and a yellow throat, opening in early summer from a spring planting. It needs full sun and sharply drained, preferably sandy soil and rots in wet, heavy ground; water regularly while it grows, taper off after flowering, and let the leaves wither on their own because they build next year's corm. It also does well in pots, which makes overwintering easier.
| Group | Perennial |
| Light | Full sun |
| Size after 10 years | 30 cm × 10 cm |
| Ultimate size | 15–45 cm × 8–20 cm |
| Hardiness | down to -7 °C (USDA 8, RHS H4) |
| Soil | Sandy, Average garden soil |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Flowering | June–July, red, orange, purple, yellow, white, pink |
| Water need | Medium |
| Drought tolerance | Medium |
| Maintenance | High |
| Root aggressiveness | Low |
| Suckering | no data |
| Spreading | Low |
| Distance from buildings | no data |
| Distance from paving | no data |
| Litter | not typical |
| Planting distance | 10 cm |
| For dogs | no data |
| For cats | no data |
| For children | no data |
| Typical price | no data |
Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.
Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made
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