Q.wand flowers
What is the difference between wand flowers and gladiolus? Do wand flowers need to be dug up and stored for the winter?
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Wand flower refers to many different types of flowers. The African corn lily, aka wand flower (Ixia), has corms that produce sword-like leaves with star-shaped flowers and grows on thin, wiry 1-2 foot tall stems. In cooler climates, when foliage turns yellow, dig corms and store in a cool location in a dry area and replant the next growing season. In mild climates, it can be left in the ground.
Another wand flower known as harlequin flower (Sparaxis) also grows from corms and must also be dug up and stored over winter in cooler climates. This one also gets between 1-2 feet tall but has more brilliant flower colors, like salmon-orange, red, pink, etc.
