Tritonia gladiolaris, Gladiolus lineatus, Ixia gladiolaris, Tritonia lineata, Chiffon lace, Lined tritonia, Montbretia, 25-100 fresh seeds July 2024

Tritonia gladiolaris (syn. Gladiolus lineatus, Ixia gladiolaris, Tritonia lineata), also known as chiffon lace, lined tritonia, montbretia, or tritonia, belongs to the family Iridaceae and is native to southern Africa, particularly Lesotho and South Africa. It is commonly grown as an ornamental plant in temperate regions, especially in Australia.

This species has become widely naturalized in southern and eastern Australia, including parts of New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania, as well as areas in New Zealand. It often inhabits grasslands, open woodlands, and disturbed sites.

Tritonia gladiolaris typically reaches a height of 30-60 cm, regrowing annually from long-lived corms. The plant features tufted, strap-like leaves measuring 7-35 cm long and 7-18 mm wide. Its flowers, borne in spikes with 5-15 tubular blooms, bloom primarily in spring and come in cream, white, or pale yellow with purple or black veins.

The slender flowering stems are unbranched and hairless, while the oval fruit capsules turn brown and split open upon maturity, dispersing numerous seeds. Tritonia gladiolaris reproduces by seed and vegetatively through its corms, with dispersal occurring via wind, water, and contaminated soil.

Germination instruction

Seeds should be sown thinly in deep seed trays (minimum 10 cm) during autumn to promote root development. Use a well-draining soil mix, such as two parts sand, two parts compost, and one part loam, or an equal mix of sand and compost. Plant the seeds 3-4 mm deep, cover them with clean sand, and keep the soil moist and lightly shaded.