Drimeopsis "Black Pearl"
By Stu
Cleveland,
United Kingdom 
We bought a plant today from a local small garden centre called Drimeopsis "Black Pearl". The garden centre knew nothing about it other than it "came in from Holland yesterday" ! ! ! It's a kind of garden centre that often has plants that they have bought "cheap" from somewhere.
I can't find a great deal about it on the internet other than a different spelling (Drimiopsis) and that it is an African hosta. It has spotted leaves & looks a bit like an orchid or Erythronium dens canis.
I do wonder whether it is tender or not . . . . can anyone help?
On plant
Drimeopsis "Black Pearl".
3 Jun, 2009
Answers
Drimiopsis maculata and D.maxima are both bulbs from South Africa, growing in shade. The flowers are green and resemble a cross between a grape hyacinth and a plantain, reaching about a foot tall. It appears to be found mainly in coastal areas.
My recommendation is:
a) it's not hardy
b) grow it in a pot in a mix of compost and grit and keep it in part shade
c) keep your fingers firmly crossed
3 Jun, 2009
I get the impression that Drimiopsis does not match what you purchased. my question is could it be "black pearl pepper" capiscum annum. Look that one up and see if that is what you have.
5 Jun, 2009
I have now added a photograph of the plant.
5 Jun, 2009
drimiopsis maculata is what it looks like to me.
5 Jun, 2009
Found it! But it's already answered anyway. Good luck with it.
5 Jun, 2009
I agree with kmccue07 - looks exacly like the photo of D.maculata in my book of South African plants
5 Jun, 2009
def tender in really cold winters. treat a s houseplant. the name african hosta is used abroad in california esp: where they can and do use them as small scale ground cover with other xerophytes. sometimes named a s ledebouria and even scillas which is their original scientific name. very under represented in this country, abroad in a merica and the far east they select and treasure many variegated forms. yours is a true species and the name attached could well be a sellers unsubstantiated name. it is however a very well marked form of a very variable species. if when it clumps you would like to sell a single bulb i would be very interested as iam getting together a collection my latest addition is one called green leopard on its way from america. buzz
26 Oct, 2009
Welcome Buzz - hope you're going to post some photos of your plants, just checked your profile, sounds like the pics could be really interesting
26 Oct, 2009
I bought the plant in Europe as Eucomis punctata 'Black Pearl' It is definitely not this. Since identified it as Ledebouria petiolata. I am not sure of the cultivar name.
2 Nov, 2010
Previous question
« good afternoon everyone :o) i have a really lovely penstemon called 'heavenly...
You can probably assume it is tender, as it's not in either the RHS or the Reader's Digest encyclopaedia, but it'll be okay outside in the summer.
3 Jun, 2009