Lachenalia viridiflora
Green flowered cape cowslip
- Height × spread
- 0.2m × 0.2m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Flowers
- Winter, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
A delightful and unusual plant that has turquoise blooms. This is a South African bulb that is too tender to overwinter outside in Britain, but it is well suited to pot culture. It flowers from May to July in South Africa and will become dormant thereafter. This has sturdy green leaves, broad and strappy and held upright. The flowers, carried on stout green stalks rise from the foliage mass. The individual blooms are tubular and arch out alternately from the upright stems. The long slim tube is coloured in variable shades, sometimes quite pale with some bluer striping. The mouth of the tube opens a little to allow the perianth to develop. This stands up to 20cm (8in) in height, sometimes half that, with an equivalent spread.
- Flower colour
- Blue
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 0.2m
- Spread
- 0.2m
- Season of interest
- Autumn, Winter
- Flowers in
- Winter, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Indoors, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
AutumnNow
Autumn · Planting
Remove offsets to create new plants
Offsets are small plants or shoots that develop around the parent plant. They should have developed a root system of their own before they are detached. They can be planted directly, or grown in pots if so small they could be 'lost' in the garden.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Give a general purpose feed two or three times during the growing season, preferably not within a month of its end so the plant isn't encouraged to make fresh young growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Winter · Outdoors
Lachenalia watering regime
Water regularly in growth, as leaves fail reduce watering and leave virtually dry during summer dormancy, giving just a tiny amount of water. The plant is best kept in a cool position while dormant. In autumn recommence watering as growth restarts.