The colourful papery segments of the flower are in fact sepals and are strongly veined. Sepals and petals are both five in number, but the latter are minute and barely noticeable. The sepals are joined close to the base, thus forming a five-lobed calyx. The slender peduncles which support a few drooping flowers are a reddish colour. The fruit is a three-celled capsule with each cell containing several blackish seeds.
Fruits mature quickly, splitting open when ripe and releasing the small seeds.
Empty capsules persist on the plant for some time and these should not be mistaken for seeds when seed collecting. This species is suited to most reasonably well-drained soils and requires little attention once plants are established. In the Australian National Botanic Gardens specimens have survived for ten years and more in a sometimes dry soil. Plants grow equally well in full sun or in a semi-shaded area. The latter situation seems to lengthen their flowering period.