Flower Library
Triteleia
Triteleia · Asparagaceae
Triteleia is an insider tip among summer flowers: loose umbels of funnel-shaped starry florets in clear violet blue on leafless, wiry stems. It resembles a dainty agapanthus at a fraction of the price — and with up to two weeks of vase life it is one of the longest-lasting cut flowers of all. In the trade it usually goes by the cultivar name ‚Queen Fabiola‘.
- Season
- May – June – July
- Vase life
- 10–14 days
- Latin name
- Triteleia
- Colors
- Violet blue, Light blue, White
Botanically triteleia was long classified under Brodiaea, and at the auction both names still run side by side — what is usually meant is Triteleia laxa. The dominant cultivar is the violet-blue ‚Queen Fabiola‘, complemented by light blue and white selections such as ‚Silver Queen‘.
Its greatest asset is staying power: the buds of an umbel open one after another over many days, so a stem stays attractive for a good ten to fourteen days. Simply pluck out the spent florets and the next funnels take their place — a little perpetual motion machine in the vase.
When buying we look for umbels with only two or three flowers open and the remaining buds already showing colour. Fully green buds sometimes fail to open completely in the vase; this is where fresh stock straight from the Veiling pays off.
Stylistically triteleia is a wonderful source of blue for summer — a colour that is always in short supply. It gives meadow bouquets with daisies, cornflowers and grasses depth, but also works elegantly with white and silver-green. The leafless stems are extremely easy to arrange because nothing needs stripping.
It is hard to go wrong with this flower. There are only two things it dislikes: stale, old water and direct midday sun. Avoid both and you have one of the most uncomplicated vase flowers of the year.
Is Triteleia toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Triteleia is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people; the corms of related species even served as food for indigenous peoples of North America. We still generally advise against eating it.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Cut the stems at an angle and place them in fresh water with flower food.
- 02Change the water every two to three days and the umbel stays lovely for up to two weeks.
- 03Regularly pluck out spent florets — the remaining buds will open in their place.
- 04Display bright, but out of direct midday sun.
- 05Buy umbels with plenty of coloured, still-closed buds — they have the longest vase life ahead of them.
Frequently asked
- How long does triteleia last in the vase?
- Ten to fourteen days — putting it in the top tier of cut flowers. The buds of the umbel open one after another; pluck out spent florets and keep the water fresh and it often lasts even longer.
- Is triteleia the same as brodiaea?
- Almost: the two are closely related, and triteleia was formerly included in the genus Brodiaea. In the flower trade the names are still often used interchangeably — the well-known ‚Queen Fabiola‘ is correctly a Triteleia laxa.
- Is triteleia toxic to cats?
- No, triteleia is considered pet-friendly — a rarity among bulb and corm flowers. For households with curious cats it is therefore a good blue alternative to toxic species such as agapanthus or iris.
- When is triteleia available?
- The main auction season runs from May to July, peaking in June. As a garden plant the autumn-planted corm flowers at the same time — a good gap-filler between the spring and high-summer display.