ixias

Ixias are flowering plants in the iris family (Iridaceae), belonging to the genus Ixia. The genus comprises roughly 70 to 100 species native to southern Africa, especially the Cape region. They are geophytic perennials that grow from underground corms. Leaves are slender and sword-shaped, arranged in two ranks along the flowering stem. Flowers form showy spikes with iris-like blossoms that come in a wide range of colors, including red, orange, yellow, pink, purple, and white, often with contrasting markings near the center. The blossoms are arranged in a dense raceme and typically open from the bottom upward. In their native habitat they usually bloom in spring to early summer.

Habitat and cultivation preferences place ixias among popular ornamental plants. They prefer full sun and well-drained soils and are relatively drought-tolerant once established. In temperate gardens they are often grown as bulbous perennials, though in colder regions they may be treated as annuals or lifted and stored during winter dormancy. Corms are commonly planted in autumn or early spring, a few centimeters deep, with spacing that accommodates their mature height. After flowering, letting the foliage wither naturally helps replenish the corms for the next season.

Propagation occurs by corm offsets or seeds. In cultivation, ixias are valued for borders, sunny rock gardens, and as cut flowers due to their vivid colors and long-lasting blooms. They can be susceptible to slug damage and to Botrytis in overly damp conditions, so good drainage and air movement are important for healthy plants.