Tritonia crocata

Iridaceae
Perennials, Flowers

South African native related tofreesia, harlequin flower (Sparaxis),ixia, montbretia (Crocosmia).Often called flame freesia.Fans of swordlike leaves to 1 ft.long grow in early spring, followedin late spring by flower spikesholding bright orange-red flowersabove the foliage. Blooms arefunnel-shaped, up to 2 in. across,and long lasting in a vase. Foliagedies down after bloom, re-emergesthe next spring. Good inrock gardens, borders.

T. c. miniata has bright redblooms. ‘Princess Beatrix’ hasdeep orange flowers. Othersmay be offered in white, yellow,and pink shades. For the plantsometimes called T. crocosmiiflora,see Crocosmia ×crocosmiiflora.

Plant corms in well-drained soil,setting them 2–3 in. deep, 3 in.apart. Plant in fall where wintertemperatures remain above 20°F (–7°C); wait until spring incolder areas. Corms can remainin the ground where hardy, butthey are likely to rot unlessplanting area is kept fairly dryduring summer dormancy.Divide overcrowded plantingsduring dormant period. Wherecorms cannot be protected andin colder regions, dig and storeover winter or grow in pots.