Lachenalia bulbifera
Common name
‘Crimson Joy’
Family
Hyacinthaceae
Flora category
Vascular – Exotic
Structural class
Herbs - Monocots
Conservation status
Not applicable
Brief description
“Lachenalia bulbifera is a deciduous, winter-growing geophyte up to 0.3 m high. The subterranean storage organ is a shallow or deep-seated, fleshy, flattened bulb surrounded by membranous outer tunics. It produces one or two narrowly or broadly egg-shaped, fleshy, suberect leaves that may be plain green or heavily spotted or blotched with dark brown or purple on the upper surface.”http://pza.sanbi.org/lachenalia-bulbifera
In New Zealand, wild plants have unspotted (plain green) leaves. The leaves emerge in April-May and flowers appear June-July, with a few in August or even September. One established in light soils (sand or fine gravels), this species can form large dense patches, to 5 m diameter or more. It also persists in loose stone walls and crib walls.
Flower colours
Orange, Red/Pink
Year naturalised
2000
Origin
Western Cape, South Africa
Reason for introduction
Ornamental