General Description: A perennial, small tufting plant, to 80 cm tall, with long, narrow, fine grass-like leaves and spikes of bright pink flowers.
Flowers and Fruit: Spikes of small pink or white flowers from September to January. Fruit consists of a spike of capsules each containing very fine red seed.
Site Preference and Tolerances: Prefers full sun or semi shade. Grows in damp areas or areas subject to retaining moisture for several months each year.
Life Span: May be short lived
Wildlife Value: Trigger plants gained their common name from an ingenious mechanism that attracts and traps small insects. When the flower is ripe the column is sensitive to touch, insects attracted to the nectar will trigger off the column and so disperse the pollen. The pollen is then transferred by the insects to other flowers. Provides food for insect eating birds.
Other Values and Uses: Very attractive when clumped together and suits rockery areas. Trigger plants grow in association with many other small plants that tolerate wet conditions.
Other Common Names: Pinnong (Koorie name)
Germination Information: Sow seed in autumn and should have good results in seven to ten weeks. Light will give increased germination so only cover lightly with soil.