Getting it to bloom
Why won't my Harlequin Flower bloom? (and how to make it flower)
Also called Harlequin flower, Wand flower, Three-coloured sparaxis (Sparaxis tricolor).
More about harlequin flower
About Harlequin Flower
Sparaxis tricolor · also called Harlequin flower, Wand flower · flowering
Sparaxis tricolor is a cormous perennial native to the Western Cape of South Africa, producing cheerful funnel-shaped blooms in red, orange, or purple with a vivid yellow throat ringed in black during spring. It thrives in full sun and sharply drained, sandy soil, and must be kept completely dry during its summer dormancy or the corms will rot. In the UK and cooler US climates it is best grown under glass in autumn-planted pots and kept frost-free; in USDA zones 9–10 it naturalises freely in the ground. It is considered mildly toxic to pets and should be kept out of reach of cats and dogs.
Plant type: flowering
Watch for — Aphids: Young flower stems and buds are attractive to aphids in spring; check weekly and treat with an insecticidal soap spray or introduce biological controls such as Aphidius wasps under glass.
The reasons harlequin flower isn't blooming
Almost every non-blooming harlequin flower 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 harlequin flower 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 harlequin flower to flower
- Maximise sun. Give harlequin flower 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 harlequin flower and get the feeding right with the harlequin flower 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
Harlequin Flower 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 harlequin flower care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.
Harlequin Flower blooming — frequently asked questions
Why won't my harlequin flower flower?
Harlequin Flower 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 harlequin flower bloom?
Give harlequin flower 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 harlequin flower normally bloom?
Harlequin Flower flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.
What should I do with harlequin flower after it flowers?
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.
What is the single biggest mistake stopping harlequin flower flowering?
Feeding harlequin flower a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.
Keep reading
- Harlequin Flower care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- Harlequin Flower light needs — usually the first thing to fix for flowers
- Harlequin Flower fertilising — the right feed for buds, not just leaves
- Should I water my plant? The simple check
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry
- Underwatered plant — signs and rehydration
- Why won't my peace lily bloom?
- Why won't my jade plant bloom?
- Why won't my tomato bloom?
- All 4114 bloom guides in the Growli library