Hesperantha baurii
Family: Iridaceae
What it is like
Hesperantha baurii is a CORM growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 9. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees, moths. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.
Height (m): 0.2
Where it is found
Moist grassland to 2450 metres.
S. Africa - E. Cape, Natal, Transvaal.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 1
Root. No more details are given.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating:
Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent
How it is grown
Requires a well-drained soil in a sunny position. This species should grow well in a moist peaty soil. This species is not very hardy in Britain, but where temperatures seldom fall below freezing the corms can be successfully grown at the foot of a south facing wall or in a south facing border. Plants from the higher altitudes of its range should be frost hardy. Plant the corms about 10 - 15cm deep and give them a good mulch in winter. Lift and dry off the corms when the growth dies down and store them in a cool place until it is time to replant them. Corms can also be planted in spring, they will flower in the summer and can then be dug up in the autumn and stored in a cool frost-free place over winter. The flowers open in the early evening and emit a sweet clove-like perfume.
Propagating it: Seed - sow autumn in a greenhouse. Sow thinly and leave the seedlings undisturbed in the seed tray for their first year of growth. Give an occasional liquid feed to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. Pot up two or three of the small corms per pot when the plants are dormant in the autumn. Grow them on in a greenhouse until the corms are large enough to flower and then plant them out in the spring. Plants usually flower in 3 - 4 years from seed. Division of offsets when harvesting the corms. Store them until it is time to replant. If the offsets are small they can be grown in a greenhouse for their first year, otherwise they can be grown outdoors.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.
Habit: Corm
Hardiness: 8-11
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Dry, moist