Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Glaucous Lampranthus bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Glaucous Lampranthus, Noon Flower, Yellow Ice Plant (Lampranthus glaucus).

More about glaucous lampranthus

About Glaucous Lampranthus

Lampranthus glaucus · also called Glaucous Lampranthus, Noon Flower · flowering

A compact, rounded South African succulent shrub producing masses of vivid orange to yellow daisy-like flowers from late summer into autumn. Known as a 'noon flower' because blooms open only in full sun. Glaucous blue-green succulent foliage is attractive year-round. Excellent for coastal gardens, rockeries, and sunny dry banks.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Non-flowering: If the plant does not bloom, the most likely cause is insufficient direct sunlight. Flowers are triggered by warmth and bright light; even partial shade significantly reduces flower production. Also check that plants are not being over-fed with nitrogen.

The reasons glaucous lampranthus isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming glaucous lampranthus traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding glaucous lampranthus a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get glaucous lampranthus to flower

Maximise sun. Give glaucous lampranthus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for glaucous lampranthus and get the feeding right with the glaucous lampranthus fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Glaucous Lampranthus flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full glaucous lampranthus care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Glaucous Lampranthus blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my glaucous lampranthus flower?

Glaucous Lampranthus blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make glaucous lampranthus bloom?

Give glaucous lampranthus the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does glaucous lampranthus normally bloom?