Report on Sparaxis

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In addition to planting a lot of freesia this season, I planted sparaxis for the first time. To be fair, being compared to freesia is pretty harsh competition, because freesia is absolutely beyond belief beautiful, both in the leaf structure and the profusion of blooms.

Here are some stray thoughts on sparaxis. I am finding that the majority of them haven't bloomed and the leaves are already starting to look ragged and yellowish as if they are beginning to die back. This flower (pictured) is in an area that I hadn't originally set aside for sparxis, having more shade and more water. From what I had read, sparaxis does well in hotter areas with sandier soils, but it doesn't seem to be the case here. The temperature here is still cool, but getting warmer fast, and I fear for the ability of the sparxis in the hotter areas to have a chance to bloom at all this season. Well, I'm experimenting mostly.

Another consideration with sparasix is that the flowers close at night, unlike freesia and daffodils. If you are interested in having a garden that displays well at night, night-closing flowers aren't a good choice.  I've made the mistake of planting flowers that close at night and then going out to see how they look displayed by the Malibu lights. Not good.

Additionally, sparasix blooms begin with a thin, brown papery covering that really isn't that attractive close up. I guess these are field flowers, meant to be seen from a distance. And they aren't freesia!

Update 4/1/2012 The sparaxis never did look very good. There were very few blooms and the look of the leaves overall was just plain ratty. I dug them all up and will try something else next season.

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