Rhodoxis Red Alert

Rhodoxis ‘Red Alert’ is a small, bulbous perennial of South African origin, prized for its large, star-shaped, purplish-pink flowers that bloom from spring to summer. Forming a compact cushion, this variety is well-suited for adorning sunny balconies and rockeries. Its fine, dense foliage creates an animated carpet, quickly covered in eye-catching flowers. Its hardiness is limited, so it is best reserved for regions with mild winters or for pot cultivation so that it can be protected from severe frosts.

Botanically, Rhodoxis ‘Red Alert’ belongs to the Hypoxidaceae family, which includes Rhodohypoxis and Hypoxis, small flowering "bulbs" with star-shaped flowers native to southern Africa. It is part of the horticultural group x Rhodoxis. These are hybrids characterised by tight cushion-like growth, very narrow foliage, and particularly abundant flowering. This variety is encountered under several names in commerce: Rhodoxis hybrida ‘Red Alert’, x Rhodoxis ‘Red Alert’, or Rhodohypoxis ‘Red Alert’.
The plant forms a dense, well-defined cushion from small rhizomatous bulbs. It reaches 10 to 15 cm in height and 15 to 20 cm in width. The foliage is deciduous: the leaves disappear completely in autumn, then reappear in spring. The leaves are linear to lanceolate, like blades of grass, somewhat rigid, finely hairy, of a medium to bright green, sometimes pleated. The short and upright flowering stems bear solitary flowers just above the foliage.
The flowers of Rhodoxis ‘Red Alert’ are a good size for this group: 2 to 3 cm in diameter. They have 6 unequal tepals, slightly curved backwards, in a bright purplish-pink or very dark pink, surrounding a small, distinct yellow eye. Flowering extends from May to August, even into September.
This plant can withstand frosts of around –8 °C in light, well-drained soil that is quite dry in winter; further north or in heavy soil, it is best grown in pots to be overwintered frost-free and dry.

In the garden, Rhodoxis ‘Red Alert’ can be tucked into a very sunny border, between the stones of steps, or at the top of a low wall. In a rockery, it pairs well with the bicolour stars of Rhodoxis ‘Fairy Kisses’ and the changing carpet of Rhodoxis ‘Ria’, in shades of pale pink and bright pink. To accentuate the effect of a flowering cushion, you can plant Dianthus deltoides ‘Micro Chips’, with its small fringed flowers, and clouds of Erigeron karvinskianus ‘Profusion’, which self-seeds between paving stones. In troughs and low bowls, it also combines very well with another red Rhodohypoxis like ‘Red King’, to be placed near the house or on the terrace.

In South Africa, Rhodoxis colonise moist mountain meadows, and in Japan, their flowering cushions are prized in kusamono displays, arranged alongside bonsai.