The climate of South Africa is remarkably similar to that of California, where summers are long and hot and winters cool and rainy. It’s a Mediterranean climate where plants evolved to tolerate a dry season of epic proportions. Parts of the West are much the same, where it doesn’t rain from April to December in a normal year and even less during drought. Therefore, plants that originate in southern Africa make good candidates for our dry gardens, offering a whole new look in spring and summer.
There are two fairy delicate bulbs from this part of Africa: ixia and sparaxis. They both originate in the southwest part of the Cape of Good Hope. They also crop up in isolated communities up the east and west coasts further north. Their preferences are high, dry rocky outcrops, in sandy veldt communities and gravelly riverbeds wherever drainage is suited to their liking.
For years we saw ixia and sparaxis in most of the spring and summer bulb catalogs, perhaps for flower arrangers. These delicate wandflowers are usually overlooked in favor of lush perennials, huge tulips and gladiolas. But suddenly the droughty origins of the little fellows give them great value in arid landscapes that need a bit of jewel-like beauty without much more demand than rainfall.
Both are called wandflower because of the straight stems that seem to defy wind damage. This allows the flowers to be planted in larger grassy communities to create a mesic prairie wildflower look without resorting to seed. Both of these are small corm-like structures that are tiny, had as rocks and are buried just 1 inch deep, so if you have a lot of rocks, the corms can be pressed down into the tiniest gaps.
Old South African references tell us that early growers of these corm wildflowers of south Africa were always concerned with cut flowers that would hold in arrangements. That may be why the bulbs came into the market so early, because of breeding that improved the species into brighter hues, larger flowers and a more extensive range of color.
The bulbs are ideal for California and the Southwest because they grow on winter rainfall, then flower and die back by the heat of summer. Where soils are well drained and summer rain is absent, the corms may be left in ground to naturalize. Unfortunately, they are not tolerant of moisture when summer dormant, so beware of using them in areas of broadcast irrigation.
The same old reference reiterates the problem with all delicate fairy plants: They are easily lost in the milieu of garden plants. Therefore it has always been the way with them to plant in groups of at least 12, spaced at two inches on center. This concentrates their presence and color for greater visibility from a distance.
The bulbs are tailor-made for dry stream beds of all kinds. They are keys to that wildflower look in spring when the grasses are still short. Plant them to nest boulders in the dry setting, or spot into beds and borders to fill unirrigated gaps with visual interest. Like with all bulbs, you must allow the stems to remain after flowers fade to nutrify the corm for next year’s show. Allow them to send out new shoots and concentrate the density of each original corm so eventually they become a significant clump growing just as they would in Africa.
No bulb is better for small gardens. They are so exquisite and dainty. Let them rise up between flagstones or border that stepping path. No other flower integrates as well with virtually all succulent compositions, because they originate in the same place as these popular plants. Shop online at any bulb seller to find well priced blends of ixia and sparaxis. Order twice what you think you’ll need to test them on your slope, rock garden or meadow for a great new look next year.
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Maureen Gilmer is an author, horticulturist and landscape designer. Learn more at www.MoPlants.com
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