How to grow Tritonia

Tritonia, which shares family ties with the Ixia genus in the Iridaceae family, is the plant equivalent of that reliable friend who always shows up. Known as blazing star or garden montbretia, the 28-odd species of Tritonia are like the VIPs of the Western Cape fynbos biome. While they mostly hang out there, you might also catch them mingling in the grasslands of summer rainfall areas. 

Did you know?

Three Western Cape species with bright-red flowers, T. crocata, T. squalida and T. deusta, are those that have been used to develop the garden cultivars which are grown around the world in temperate areas. 

These plants are tough as nails, flower on cue, and flaunt a spectrum of warm colours that will quite literally brighten your day. Whether you have a green thumb or are working on one, these indigenous bulbs will make a delightful addition to your collection of garden plants. These small bulbous plants (reaching around 30-60cm in height) offer flower power from late spring, while their lance-shaped leaves first appear in autumn. The stems hold a plethora of lightly fragranced cup-shaped flowers in shades of cream, yellow and bright orange through to salmon pink, which open from the top of the stem, working down to the bottom, like a blooming wand. Are you ready for a touch of magic? 

Where to plant 

Tritonia is perfect for rock gardens, containers, and as a front border for larger perennials in garden beds. These hardy, easygoing plants thrive in well-ventilated, yet sheltered sunny spots that get about six hours of sun a day in well-draining soil. They can also grow in semi-shade, so don't worry if your garden isn't all sunshine.

When to plant

Late autumn or early winter is a good time to plant them out, once the daytime and ground temperatures have dropped sufficiently. If you’re in a warmer part of the country, then lean towards planting later. 

How to plant in garden beds 

The corms perform their best in light, sandy, and friable soil. Loosen the soil to ensure good drainage—think of it as giving them a nice, cosy bed. For planting, duvet the corms under the same amount of soil as their size. Since these corms are about 2cm, plant them 4cm deep. Don't stress too much about spacing; nature rarely follows a ruler. Aim for a massed planting for that wow factor! As a general rule of thumb, you can plant them about 8cm apart in garden beds. Make sure you water them every 3-4 days for 10 minutes (provided Mother Nature hasn’t rained down on them). 

How to grow in containers

If you're growing Tritonia in pots, pick a good potting mix (like our fabulous Pokon Potgrond) and ensure your container is spacious enough for the plant's mature size. Plant the corms close together in pots (almost touching). Sprinkle some Hadeco Bulb Food and compost (which should also be used as mulch) when planting, then wait six weeks after the shoots appear for a second round. This will shield your corms from frost and help retain moisture. If you're in a warmer part of South Africa, the mulch will also keep the soil cool, ensuring they grow along swiftly. Water your potted Tritonia every 2-3 days until water runs out the bottom of the container. If they are exposed to rainfall, then water less. 

Tritonia blooms a little later than other spring-flowering bulbs, so they will extend the range of colour in your garden longer. Remember – bulbs don’t start showing themselves until they have gone through their growing cycle, so you can only expect to see flowers coming through somewhere between 120 – 180 days after planting! 

How to care

Keep watering into early summer if you want your blazing little stars to make an encore appearance next season. After the blooms have had their grand finale, give them another dose of fertiliser before they take their well-deserved dormancy nap. During the growing season, be sure to deadhead spent flowers, helping the plant focus on bulking up the corm instead of wasting energy on seeds. Once the leaves die back, snip them off at ground level.

If you’re in a summer rainfall area and have them in pots, place them in a spot where they won’t get rain during their dormancy and allow the growing medium to dry out for the rest of the summer. As Tritonia corms can happily remain in the ground for several years, digging and lifting the corms is only really necessary if the clumps have become too big and need to be thinned out, or you have really clay soil that doesn’t drain well. If you are going to take them up due to lack of space, make sure you only do it and divide once the foliage has turned yellow, which indicates that the plant is done with storing energy and food for the next season. 

Pest patrol 

These lekker local lovelies are pretty low-maintenance when it comes to pests and diseases, but keep an eye out for aphids on the developing flower buds as the weather warms up. You know what they say—prevention is better than cure.

If slugs and snails decide to crash your garden party, opt for eco-friendly defenses like copper wire, beer traps, or Ferramol to keep them away from your flowers. Avoid watering the leaves, and ensure good airflow around the plants to keep fungal diseases, like rust fungi, as well as red spider mites and mealybugs at bay. It's all about making your plants enjoy the best blooming stay. Then when these spring bloomers shower you with a profusion of flowers, you can cut them for the vase, and bring their beauty inside. 

Happy growing!