Family Iridaceae
Originating from South Africa
- Spreading clumps of bright green architectural sword-shaped leaves
- Intense deep vermillion flower spikes last for many weeks in summer.
- Hardy and easy to grow in free draining soil in full sun.
Spectacularly lustrous and vigorous, upright and architectural. Lush and broadly sword-shaped herbaceous leaves emerge from slowly spreading fleshy roots, called corms. The foliage emerges as stiffly upright stems from which the broad leaf blades fan out, making an impressive spiky looking display before the flowers emerge.
As the bright green leaves mature, the dark burgundy/black stemmed flower spikes begin to emerge, each one with copious stunning burgundy and dusky red buds borne in two chevron shaped ranks. The widely flared, incredibly intense vermillion trumpet-shaped flowers have deeper burgundy throats and open in succession along the flower spike, making a display lasting for many weeks.
Easy to grow in any well-drained soil in sun or light shade. Height and spread after 2 – 5 years 1.5m x 50cm.
Height and spread after 1-2 years 1.5m x 30cm
Mature height and spread after 4 – 5 years 1.5m x 50cm
