Lighting

Moraea is a genus of plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is a tribute to the English botanist Robert Moore. Moraeas have iris-like flowers and were at first regarded as members of the genus Iris, but most of them are smaller than most irises and commonly they are more precise in shape and with a stiffer perianth and more definite markings. Some have strong, pleasant scents, while others have none to speak of. Plants of the genus now called Dietes once were considered to be in the genus Moraea, but were separated on the grounds that they were rhizomatous. In contrast, all Moraea species have corms.

Growing 9-25cm bears leaves with wavy margins and large yellow flowers in spring.

USDA Zone - 8

Season to Sow - Autumn

Photos with credit to the late Rod and Rachel Saunders, eminent experts on South African indigenous flora.

Moraea is a genus of plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is a tribute to the English botanist Robert Moore. Moraeas have iris-like flowers and were at first regarded as members of the genus Iris, but most of them are smaller than most irises and commonly they are more precise in shape and with a stiffer perianth and more definite markings. Some have strong, pleasant scents, while others have none to speak of. Plants of the genus now called Dietes once were considered to be in the genus Moraea, but were separated on the grounds that they were rhizomatous. In contrast, all Moraea species have corms.

Growing 2.5-15cm with ciliate leaves and 1 large fragrant white/blue/yellow/brown flower. Flowers from winter to spring.

USDA Zone - 8

Season to Sow - Autumn

Photos with credit to the late Rod and Rachel Saunders, eminent experts on South African indigenous flora.

The genus Ixia consists of a number of cormous plants native to South Africa from the Iridaceae family and Ixioideae subfamily. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include: sword-like leaves, and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers well-drained soil. The popular corn lily has specific, not very intense fragrance as vegetables. That is why it's often visited by many insects such as bees. The Ixia are also used sometimes as ornamental plants. The genus name is derived from the Greek words ixias, meaning "the chameleon plant", and physis, meaning "bladder".

Growing to 30cm with 3 falcate leaves an 2-6 blue-purple flowers with yellow throat in a wiry twisted spike with twisted branches flowering in spring.

USDA Zone - 8

Season to Sow - Autumn

Photos with credit to the late Rod and Rachel Saunders, eminent experts on South African indigenous flora.

Moraea is a genus of plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is a tribute to the English botanist Robert Moore. Moraeas have iris-like flowers and were at first regarded as members of the genus Iris, but most of them are smaller than most irises and commonly they are more precise in shape and with a stiffer perianth and more definite markings. Some have strong, pleasant scents, while others have none to speak of. Plants of the genus now called Dietes once were considered to be in the genus Moraea, but were separated on the grounds that they were rhizomatous. In contrast, all Moraea species have corms.

Growing to 65cm with yellow flowers with beautiful orange centres flowering in spring.

USDA Zone - 8

Season to Sow - Autumn

Photos with credit to the late Rod and Rachel Saunders, eminent experts on South African indigenous flora.

Romulea is a genus in the Iridaceae family of about 90 species that is found both in South Africa and in Europe. They are quite striking, and there is a great variation in colour and markings of the flowers. They are easy to grow in pots and many are easy from seed, flowering rather quickly in some cases.

Growing 7-20cm with shiny rose to salmon pink flowers with blotches or veins in throat flowering winter to spring.

USDA Zone - 8

Season to Sow - Autumn

Photos with credit to the late Rod and Rachel Saunders, eminent experts on South African indigenous flora.

Geissorhiza is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the iris family which originate from South Africa. The genus name is derived from the Greek words geisson, meaning "tile", and rhizon, meaning "root". Geissorhiza are found in the winter rainfall region of the south and west coasts of southern Africa. Many of them make very handsome container plants and benefit from extra water during growth. Geissorhiza blooms during the day.

Growing to 20cm with terete leaves and pretty pale yellow flowers, flowering in spring.

USDA Zone - 8

Season to Sow - Autumn

Photos with credit to the late Rod and Rachel Saunders, eminent experts on South African indigenous flora.

Cyrtanthus is a genus of perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family. This highly ornamental genus encompasses about 60 species. It is endemic in the southern and eastern parts of Africa and is represented in all nine provinces of South Africa, with the highest concentration of species occurring in the southern parts of Eastern Cape. The name Cyrtanthus refers to the curved perianth tube of many of the species and is derived from the Greek kyrtos meaning curved and anthos meaning flower. This genus is highly valued horticulturally. Species differ greatly in the colour, size, shape and position of the flowers.

Growing to 40cm with bright red flowers and evergreen foliage it is easy to cultivate. Likes semi to shady areas and well-drained sandy soil.

USDA Zone - 7

Season to Sow - Autumn

Photos with credit to the late Rod and Rachel Saunders, eminent experts on South African indigenous flora.