It is one of the first to flower of the Autumn growing species and it is so dainty it would be easy to miss it in a garden overgrown with other plants or weeds.
That's why I suggest you grow it in small pots, so that you can enjoy it to the fullest.
It has a beautiful perfume that will waft through the area where it grows. This year, I placed my plants near the entrance to where I pot up, and I enjoyed the exquisite fragrance during the flowering period which lasted for over two months.
Polyxena is from the Hyacinthaceae family from South Africa. The name is from the Greek polys, meaning many; and xenos for stranger, guest.
The genus is endemnic to South Africa from the Cape Province. It has only two species and they grow from Namqualand to the Eastern Cape.
They are winter growing and the seeds are sown in Autumn. Each plant produces up to six leaves. The flower is a congested raceme of pink, white or mauve flowers and are often very strongly scented.
As they are dwarf plants, they are best suited to and cultivated in small pots or containers. I started my seed off in four inch pots and except where I have wanted to split them up, I have left them growing in these pots where thay grow very well.
Polyxena need a sunny position but will not tolerate frosts.
Put them in a sandy, well-drained potting mix. They do not need a lot of fertiliser - I use small quantities of blood and bone each year. Give them a long, dry spell in the dormant period, which is Spring , Summer.
They will propogate from offsets but they are very easily grown from seed. They will produce lovely flowers within two or three seasons. They will be eaten by snails and can be occassionally attacked by mealybugs.
These are images of mine, flowering at present in Gippsland Victoria. I am fortunate enough to have both color forms of pink and mauve. This year, I received seed of the white form and look forward to seeing flowers within the next few years.
Polyxena corymbosa corymbosa: with a dense cluster of flowers
From South West Cape. It is deciduous and winter-growing. It flowers during April/May. The flowers are pink.
Polyxena ensifolia - ensifolia: with sword-shaped leaves
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