Lachenalia

Asparagaceae

Cape Cowslip

They have upright pale green strap-shaped leaves which are sometimes blotched with purple and are reflexed at the tip. The flowers which follow the leaves are tube-shaped or bell-shaped and often have three colours.  

Uses

Container plants, indoor plants, or greenhouse plants in temperate climates. Bedding plants, alpine plants, border plants, or basket plants in warmer climates.  

Culture

They need plenty of light. If kept as indoor plants water well when first potted and then ease off watering until shoots appear. Slowly increase watering during growth. Apply a liquid feed fortnightly. Stop watering after flowering and allow to dry before re-potting with fresh compost. Do not lift from soil for winter storage. 

Propagation

They are best grown from bulbils divided when re-potting or after flowering if grown outdoors. They will take up to two years to flower.

Cultivars

Cultvated species include:

L. aloides (Opal Flower) - to 30cm tall. The winter flowers are 2.5cm long and are yellow with red and green tips. 

L. bulbifera - to 15cm tall. These have thick stems which bear several flowers to 2.5cm long in winter. The flowers are red, purple or yellow with green and red at the tips.

Plant Health

They may be prone to ink disease which causes dark spots or lesions. They can also get a basal rot caused by a fungus. There have no major pests.

More info

There are more than one hundred species of this genus which originate from South Africa and Namibia.

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