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Pink Bermudiana Lapeirousia

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
lah-pay-RAU-see-ah
Description

Painted Petals is a genus of small, flowering, plants in the iris family, usually not more than 2 feet high, and native to southern Africa. They are typically grown as perennials in USDA zones 8 to 10, but as half-hardy annuals in cooler climates. There are about 26 species of plants identified as belonging to this genus, many of which are found in the cape provinces of South Africa. They are cormous plants, meaning that they grow and spread by means of underground tubers. Depending on species, the flowers come in many colors, but most are small, fragrant, and bloom in early summer.

Painted Petals prefer full sun or afternoon sun and well-drained, sandy, acidic soil. The plants will tolerate poor soil and dry conditions. They should be well-watered in the spring and summer.

The root stock is a bell-shaped or triangular corm with a flat base of woody or densely compacted fibers. You should plant corms to a depth of 2 inches (5 cm) and space 6 inches apart, or 6 per 6-inch pot. Because the plant's native environment is dry and inhospitable, corms can remain underground during bad years waiting for a more favorable environment to grow. Thus, corms should be left undisturbed and repotting every year is not recommended. However, once established, they can be transplanted in the early spring and should be divided every three years to maintain a vigorous growth.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No known diseases or insect pests.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Lapeirousia anceps
    Cream to pink flowers with a long slender tube and red markings.
  • Lapeirousia arenicola
    Short plant, branched stem, cream and pink flowers.
  • Lapeirousia barklyi
    Lilac to purple flowers.
  • Lapeirousia divaricata
    Single, sword shaped leaf, white to pale pink flowers.
  • Lapeirousia fabricii
    Ribbed leaves; short, spiked pink flowers.
  • Lapeirousia jacquinii
    Dark purple to violet flowers.
  • Lapeirousia montana
    Larger, blue to white, fragrant flowers.
  • Lapeirousia oreogena
    Ribbed leaves; violet flowers with cream or black markings.
  • Lapeirousia plicata
    Compact plant with smaller flowers.
  • Lapeirousia pyramidalis
    Creamy white, stalkless flowers.
  • Lapeirousia silenoides
    Numerous blossoms of magenta with yellow markings.
  • Lapeirousia verecunda
    Oderless, late blooming flowers.
Lapeirousia anceps, Lapeirousia arenicola, Lapeirousia barklyi, Lapeirousia divaricata, Lapeirousia fabricii, Lapeirousia jacquinii, Lapeirousia montana, Lapeirousia oreogena, Lapeirousia plicata, Lapeirousia pyramidalis, Lapeirousia silenoides, Lapeirousia verecunda
Tags:
#fragrant flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#corms#well-drained soil#herbaceous perennial#summer bulbs#sandy soils tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • Lapeirousia anceps
    Cream to pink flowers with a long slender tube and red markings.
  • Lapeirousia arenicola
    Short plant, branched stem, cream and pink flowers.
  • Lapeirousia barklyi
    Lilac to purple flowers.
  • Lapeirousia divaricata
    Single, sword shaped leaf, white to pale pink flowers.
  • Lapeirousia fabricii
    Ribbed leaves; short, spiked pink flowers.
  • Lapeirousia jacquinii
    Dark purple to violet flowers.
  • Lapeirousia montana
    Larger, blue to white, fragrant flowers.
  • Lapeirousia oreogena
    Ribbed leaves; violet flowers with cream or black markings.
  • Lapeirousia plicata
    Compact plant with smaller flowers.
  • Lapeirousia pyramidalis
    Creamy white, stalkless flowers.
  • Lapeirousia silenoides
    Numerous blossoms of magenta with yellow markings.
  • Lapeirousia verecunda
    Oderless, late blooming flowers.
Lapeirousia anceps, Lapeirousia arenicola, Lapeirousia barklyi, Lapeirousia divaricata, Lapeirousia fabricii, Lapeirousia jacquinii, Lapeirousia montana, Lapeirousia oreogena, Lapeirousia plicata, Lapeirousia pyramidalis, Lapeirousia silenoides, Lapeirousia verecunda
Tags:
#fragrant flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#corms#well-drained soil#herbaceous perennial#summer bulbs#sandy soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Lapeirousia
    Family:
    Iridaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Tanzania to South Africa
    Bulb Storage:
    Store corms dry or in containers at 41°F (5°C)
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Bulb
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Multi-stemmed
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • 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:
    Clay
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    A membranous capsule containing many small seeds, either globose or angled by pressure.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    The lily-like flowers bloom in early summer and can take many shapes and forms, depending on the species. While not particularly showy, they tend to be fragrant.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Smooth
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Sword-shaped leaves are basal and usually solitary. They may be flat and curved to narrow and pleated. Scape, or flowering stems, often occur and could be subterranean or aerial, simple or branched, depending of the species.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No