Description
Small corms with fibrous tunics make stem around 50-60cm tall, though they can reach as much as 90cm when vigorous. The stems are soft and hairy and carry a solitary leaf (which is also softly hairy) and a profusion of 2-3cm flowers. This is one of the larger-flowered species). It is a very variable plant with many colour forms mostly in shades of pale pink, light violet, purple or rarely white. The petals are also variable, being marked in blue, purple, violet and golden yellow. The plants illustrated are our actual stock. The flowers sometimes carry a sweet, light scent.
This likes a sunny situation, in pot or favoured garden spot in the right climates (perhaps not in the UK however). It can remain evergreen, but it does not like summer water and it needs to be dry from late spring until autumn.
This apparently used to make prolific displays in its native S. Africa, but it is now being eradicated as towns and cities expand across its (former) habitats and agriculture changes the nature of the remaining lands. It is estimated that 80% of its original stations are now gone.
Introduced to our lists September 2018
