Patersonia fragilis
short purple-flag
Overview
Patersonia fragilis is a tufted, grass-like perennial growing from a short rhizome, reaching 8-20 inches (20-50 cm) tall in flower. The leaves are narrow, flat, and stiff, 6-16 inches (15-40 cm) long and about 0.1-0.2 inch (2-5 mm) wide, rising in a fan-like clump from the base. Flowering stems carry one or more purple to violet flowers, each 1-1.5 inches (2.5-4 cm) across, with three broad spreading outer segments and three small inner segments. Each flower opens for only a single day, usually closing by afternoon, but a clump produces a succession of flowers over several weeks. The flowers emerge from a pair of brown, papery bracts at the stem tip. The fruit is a cylindrical capsule that splits to release dark seeds. Plants spread slowly into small clumps and regrow from the rhizome after fire. Foliage stays green year-round in mild climates.
Native Range
Native to south-eastern Australia, including New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and South Australia. Grows in heath, sedgeland, and open forest on moist to seasonally wet sandy and peaty soils, often in nutrient-poor ground.Suggested Uses
Grown in native plant gardens, rockeries, and damp borders at 12-16 inch (30-40 cm) spacing. Suited to bog gardens, pond edges, and seasonally wet ground. The grass-like clump is used for foreground planting and in container displays.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height8" - 1'8"
Width/Spread8" - 1'4"
Reaches mature size in approximately 3 years
Bloom Information
Flowers from September to December, with peak bloom in spring. Each flower lasts a single day, often closing by early afternoon, but a clump opens new flowers in succession over four to eight weeks. Flowering is heavier in the season after fire or in open, sunny positions.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
purple to violetFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-9 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in moist to seasonally wet sandy or peaty soils in full sun to light shade and tolerates low-nutrient ground. Established clumps withstand short dry spells but grow and flower more in soil that stays moist through spring. Excess phosphorus fertilizer can harm the roots, as with many plants from nutrient-poor Australian soils. Plants regrow from the rhizome after fire, which also triggers heavier flowering. Few pests or diseases affect it, though root rot can develop in soil that stays waterlogged in warm weather.Pruning
No pruning is required. Old flower stems and dead outer leaves can be trimmed at the base after flowering. Clumps can be divided in autumn or early spring to propagate new plants.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons