Found growing in front garden, Is this an Acidanthera Please?
By Clem
United Kingdom
We found one growing in our front garden last year. We saved the corm which was similar to a crocus, planted it in a pot and earlier this year it bloomed to produce the flowers as in the photos. It has long stems and gladiola type leaves. Small but stunning blooms. Now have 4 corms. Can you please say how best to grow them.
harry.lowder@btinternet.com Maidstone.
On plant
Acidanthera.... ?
- 24 Aug, 2009
Answers
Acidanthera flowers are much more open and star-like. Perhaps somebody else on here will recognise it.
24 Aug, 2009
This is Ixia maculata, or African Corn Lily. Beautiful!
24 Aug, 2009
I thought that flowered spring/early summer, not now, bbb? Although, re reading the question, it does say it flowered earlier, just not when.
24 Aug, 2009
True, Bamboo, but I still have two in flower, although the others did flower earlier in the year. It's possible that they rebloom, like some daylilies do. To be quite honest, I've never really noticed. Is that bad of me, or what?
24 Aug, 2009
Actually, BBB, now I've done a bit of research, it seems that corms which are dug up and kept and replanted the following spring do flower mid to late summer, so perhaps that's why its got flowers now.
24 Aug, 2009
Previous question
« The shrub or tree has white flowers ,seen in garden centre
I'm not sure - acidanthera usually opens out into a star shape flower, so unless these are only partially opened, it doesn't look like it. If they do open out more, then it probably is, but again, I'm not sure. Hope someone else knows for definite, but can you remember whether the flower opens out much more?
24 Aug, 2009