Wand Flower Ixia
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Wand Flower:
- Phonetic Spelling
- IKS-ee-ah
- Description
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African Corn-Lily is a genus of more than 100 flowering, herbaceous perennial plants in the Iris family that grow from corms. It is native to South Africa. Most species of African Corn-Lily have sword-like basal leaves and wiry stems topped by star-shaped, slightly fragrant, flowers in a variety of colors. The genus name comes from the Greek for bird-lime, referring to the sticky sap of these plants.
African Corn-Lily does best in organically rich, well-drained soils, sited in full sun, with a neutral to slightly alkaline PH. It can be winter hardy to some degree as long as it is protected from cold winds. Alternatively, you can dig up the corms after the foliage turns yellow and store them in a cool, dry location for planting the following spring. Plants can also be grown in containers for overwintering indoors. In that case, plant the corms 1 inch deep in spring, 5 or 6 corms per 6 inch pot and bring the pot indoors at first frost.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No know diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Marquette'
Cream-to-yellow blossoms with a dark eye. Grows to 2 feet high. - 'Panorama'
Pink or white flowers with dark centers, opens in full sun. - 'Rose Emperor'
Pink flowers. - 'Spotlight'
Tall stems of white flowers with a dark purple centre and pink stripe. - 'Venus'
Bright pink flowers.
- 'Marquette'
- 'Marquette', 'Panorama', 'Rose Emperor', 'Spotlight', 'Venus'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Marquette'
Cream-to-yellow blossoms with a dark eye. Grows to 2 feet high. - 'Panorama'
Pink or white flowers with dark centers, opens in full sun. - 'Rose Emperor'
Pink flowers. - 'Spotlight'
Tall stems of white flowers with a dark purple centre and pink stripe. - 'Venus'
Bright pink flowers.
- 'Marquette'
- 'Marquette', 'Panorama', 'Rose Emperor', 'Spotlight', 'Venus'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ixia
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- The Cape provinces of South Africa
- Distribution:
- California, Australia, Great Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, and Pakistan
- Wildlife Value:
- Often visited by bees.
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Bulb Storage:
- Store corms dry at 68-77 degrees F (20-25C)
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Inflorescence could be a spike or a panicle of spikes with at least two, and often many, flowers, often spirally arranged.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Mostly basal leaves, in two vertical rows, linear, lanceolate or thread like, and usually with a false midrib.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Stems can be simple or branched.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Meadow
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
