Rancho Santa Rita, TX (Zone 8a) | July 2009 | neutral
Geissorhizas are jewel-like members of the Iris family – they’re generally quite small, but intricate & often vivdly colored, & they ...Read Moredon’t take up much space, but over the years they do form little sociable colonies & become more showy by their sheer number.
They aren’t, however, as weedy as, say, Anomatheca laxa, & they do bear particularly large flowers for their “party-favor” size. This species has 2” flowers in shades of plum to wine red, with grey striping on the centermost part of the petal. Don’t water them in the summer, okay? They don’t like that. Our soggy winters suit them just fine!
Flowers in mid-Spring.
Sun
Low/Regular water
No Summer Water
South African Bulb
USDA Zones 9-11
Teeny little bulbs from the winter rainfall region of South Africa's Cape, they ge...Read Morerminate readily from seed, and can bloom as early as the second year (as seen in my photo ).
They are winter growers that require an almost absolutely dry rest during summer dormacy. I feed with bonemeal during growth. My potting medium is half/half gritty sand and neutral pH loam, with a bit of peat thrown in to keep it slightly acid and open.
I've never tested their hardiness - I grow in a cold frame over winter.
Geissorhizas are jewel-like members of the Iris family – they’re generally quite small, but intricate & often vivdly colored, & they ...Read More
How could one not love Geissorhiza's???
Teeny little bulbs from the winter rainfall region of South Africa's Cape, they ge...Read More