Members of the Tritonia genus are hardy bulbs that are sometimes treated as annuals by gardeners.
They range from 15 to 60 cm (6 to 24 inches)in height.
Tritonia blooms in the middle of summer, when they carry red, orange, yellow, pink or white funnel shaped flowers.
The foliage is sword shaped and flat.
Some common names for members of Tritonia are Blazing Star, Flame Freesia, and Montbretia.
Tritonia lineata by Tony Rodd; Creative Commons.
Tritonia crocata by Eric in SF; Creative Commons.
Common Names: Flame Freesia, Lined Tritonia, Blazing Star, Montbretia.
Life Cycle: Bulb commonly grown as an annual by gardeners.
Height: 4 to 24 inches (10 to 60 cm).
Native: Southern Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 10. As a perennial in zones 7 to 10.
Flowers: Spring and/or summer.
Flower Details: White, cream, yellow, brown, red, orange, pink. Funnel-shaped. Bowl-shaped. Fragrant.
Foliage: Fan-shaped. Sword-shaped.
Blazing Star and other Tritonia species can be grown from seeds or corms.
The Corms should be buried in the autumn at about 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) deep with a spacing of 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches).
Tritonia Seeds should be sown in spring and lightly covered. Ideally it is best to grow Blazing star in a sunny part of the garden. This requires good drainage and a sandy soil that has had manure added to it.
It should take about three years for Blazing stars that have been sown from seeds to flower.
If you want to start Blazing star off indoors then do so about two months in advance.
They can be transplanted outdoors just after the last frost of spring.
Germination of Blazing stars and other Tritonia takes from one to three months at a temperature of 12 to 15 degrees centigrade (54 to 59°F).
It takes a little (not much) effort to look after Tritonia plants such as Blazing star, Flame Freesia and Montbretia.
Provide them a good mulch in the winter to protect them from the elements. They should be fed once during the growing season and watered regularly.
Once they have flowered they do not require watering. If you require more Tritonia plants then plant the offsets that they readily produce.
The Tritonia genus contains about 30 species.
Yes, Tritonia species are appreciated for their colorful, iris-like flowers. They're ideal for rock gardens, borders, and containers.
The most commonly grown species is Tritonia crocata, also known as Flame Freesia.
While not typically known for fragrance, Tritonia species are admired for their vibrant, iris-like flowers.
Tritonia thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. It's a great choice for rock gardens, borders, or containers.
Presently, Tritonia is not known to be invasive in the USA. Always refer to local guidelines for the most accurate information.
To remove Tritonia, uproot the entire plant, ensuring all roots are removed to prevent regrowth.
Tritonia is a genus in the Iris family, Iridaceae. It comprises approximately 28 species of perennial herbaceous flowering plants native to South Africa.
For successful growth, Tritonia plants prefer full sun and well-drained soil. They are typically grown from corms, which should be planted in the spring. The plants are known for their beautiful, gladiolus-like flowers.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Tritonia plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Lapeirousia and Acidanthera plants.