Sparaxis

( spar - RAX - iss )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly known as Harlequin Flower or Wand Flower, this flowering perennial grows from corms or bulbs and needs full sun and regular water during its growth and blooming periods. They are native to South Africa, and create a clump of leaves that reaches about a foot tall and wide in most species. Flowers bloom on 1.5 foot tall spikes, each with a yellow center. Best when grouped, this flower can bring color and interest to flower or grassy beds and borders. It is great for along pathways, as well, and makes a great addition to rock gardens and container plantings, especially in Mediterranean landscapes.

Sparaxis Species and Varietals

The genus Sparaxis is a member of the plant family Iridaceae and includes about 16 distinct species. Harlequin Flower grows well in zones 9 and 12-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Sparaxis auriculata
Native to the western Cape area in South Africa, these flowering plants reach about 20 inches tall when mature, and produce multicolored flowers that are yellow, cream, green, and pink. Foliage is green and strappy. Blooms appear between mid-winter and September on a spike that holds between 5 and 7 flowers each.

Sparaxis bulbifera (Harlequin Flower)
These perennials grow from bulb and are native to south Africa. These plants have established populations in the Azores and Australia, as well. Individual plants reach between 6 and 24 inches tall when in bloom, and produce white to cream-colored flowers. These plants prefer sandy, waterlogged soils.

Sparaxis grandiflora (Plain Harlequin Flower)
This species is native to the Western Cape of South Afirca, and is commonly grown as a garden ornamental around the world. The straight species produces white flowers that sometimes have yellow and purple markings or dots towards the bases of petals. Subspecies Sparaxis grandiflora grandiflora has strikingly bright reddish-pink flowers. Plants in this species typically reach around 10 inches tall when in bloom.

Sparaxis meterlerkampiae (Synnotia metelerkampiae)
These beautiful flowering plants are typically found growing on rocky sandstone slopes in the Northern and Western Cape of South Africa. They have purple flowers with white markings that appear between the months of August through mid-September in the plant's native range.

Sparaxis pillansii
Native to the Calvinia District of the Northern Cape of South Africa, these plants reach between 10 and 18 inches tall when in bloom. Flowers are rose-pink to reddish-orange with central dark purple to black markings. Anthers are purple-red and twisted. These plants prefer waterlogged conditions.

Sparaxis tricolor (Wandflower, Harlequin Flower, Sparaxis)
These bulbous plants grow well in well-draining, sunny spots in the garden. It is named for its colorful flowers which are bi- or tri-colored with a golden center and a small ring of brown surrounded by another color (typically orange-red to red). Varietals have flower colors in orange, salmon, pink, red, white, and yellow. Clumps of foliage reach between 1 and 2 feet tall.

Caring for sparaxis

Plant Sparaxis corms three inches deep under the soil surface with their pointed end facing upwards, spaced 2 inches apart for best coverage and airflow. The best time to install these corms in the landscape is either in fall (in warm winter areas) or in springtime (in cold-winter areas) after the last threat of frost has passed. Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun. Ideally, Harlequin Flowers appreciate between 6 and 8 hours of sun per day, and will bloom and otherwise perform best in this exposure. Ensure that soil is well-draining, moderately fertile, and with a pH of between 6.0 and 7.0. If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, these flowers need regular waterings during their active growth and blooming periods in spring and summertime.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing and flowering seasons. Deadhead flowers by removing the stems down to the base of the plant. Damaged, diseased, or dead foliage can be removed at any time during the growing season. In late summer to early fall after foliage has browned and died back completely, it can be cut off to improve the appearance. Sparaxis corms go dormant over the winter months, and in cool winter areas need to be dug up and stored in a sheltered location. Every few years, especially if these flowers are grown in pots, these plants will need to be divided. For instructions on how to successfully divide Harlequin Flowers, see the Propagation section below.

Propagation

Sparaxis, or Harlequin Flower, can be propagated by division or seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant, especially if you are propagating a hybrid cultivar. To propagate your Harlequin Flower, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Sparaxis by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
Harvest your seeds. The seed heads on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
Get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Sparaxis by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Problems and Pests

Sparaxis, or Harlequin Flower, plants are typically resilient, though they can be susceptible to developing issues with the following pests and diseases in the landscape from time to time: