Growing Harlequin flowers
A native of South Africa, the Harlequin flower is exotic with its trumpet like, star shaped flowers and combination of tricolors. A member of the Iridaceae family, Harlequin flowers are also known as Sparaxis tricolor, which come in a wide range of colors: red, yellow, white, pink, rust, orange, purple, and mauve. Sometimes called the wandflower, the flower centers are bright yellow, flanked against a dark brown circle which fades into the brightly colored six-petal flowers. Sensitive to cold weather conditions, harlequin flower bulbs planted outdoors bloom during cooler temperatures, usually during early spring or fall seasons. During the hot late spring and summer months, the flower bulbs go dormant but will blossom again during the cooler fall months. Harlequin flowers can also be grown in pots indoors as house plants, perfectly paired with the popular East African flower, African violets, which are found in many homes. Outside, Harlequin flowers are perfect for rock gardens, as border plants, or combined with other early spring flowers, such as tulips and crocuses.
Harlequin flower bulbs can be planted outdoors in zones 9 to 11 during the fall season where winters are mild and there is no snow on the ground. In zones 3 to 8, the bulbs can be planted indoors in a pot then transferred to the outside garden once the last winter frost has passed and the ground is thawed. Select a garden spot where the flowers will receive full sun during the daytime. Avoid planting the Harlequin flower bulbs in the shade. Prepare the soil by making sure it is well drained, adding sand if needed. Dig a hole in the soil that is five inches deep for each bulb, leaving three inches of space in between each hole per flower bulb. The plants grow to eighteen inches high, so this is ideal spacing for the flower bulbs. Check the pH level of the soil, which should be between 6 to 7. Cover each bulb with soil, then water. If planting the bulbs in the early spring after the last frost, use a fertilizer with a high level of phosphorus to encourage growth. During the rest of the growing season, use regular fertilizer. Water the harlequin plants once a week during blossoming season. Avoid watering harlequin flower bulbs during the hot summer months when they go into dormancy.
Deadheading is recommended to encourage blossoming of the flowers, but do not remove the foliage. Harlequin flowers have relatively few pests and diseases but should be checked on a regular basis for rot. Rot can easily be avoided by avoiding overwatering. In zones 3 to 8, the Harlequin flower bulbs planted outside should be dug up in the late fall and stored indoors.
Image Credit: Tom Ackroyd, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
