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Red Lachenalia
Lachenalia bulbifera
Rooinaeltjie (Afr.)
Lachenalias are grown for their spikes or racemes of showy flowers. They are bulbous plants growing naturally in a winter rainfall region where they are dormant in the hot dry summer months.
Planning
Difficulty
Moderate
Flowering time
Winter, Spring
Fruiting time
Spring
Harvesting
Generally not harvested, but flower can be cut for the vase.
Propagation
Seed
Sow seeds as soon as ripe in sandy well-draining medium.
Division
Remove bulblets in summer or autumn while dormant and replant before it grows again.
Special features
Attracts useful insects
Attracts bees
Pot plant
Can be grown in pots, plant in free draining medium, in sunny position, keep dry in dormant period.
Autumn colour
Flowers then leaves, or leaves and later(in Winter/Spring) flowers emerge.
Drought resistant
Adapted to survive a dry summer in dormant (or resting) phase and grow and flower after winter rains.
Geography
Origin
Africa, South Africa, coastal area of the Western Cape, Klawer to Mossel Bay.
Natural climate
Semi-dry winter rainfall areas
Environment
Light
Full Sun
Soil moisture
Moist
Soil type
Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil PH preference
Neutral
Frost hardiness
Half-Hardy
Personality
Family
Hyacinthaceae
Flower colour
Orange, red
Scent
Mild
Problems
Generally trouble free
Companion plants
Spring bulbs work well between low growing ground covers like Dymondia or Sutera
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