Moraea
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- mor-EYE-ah
- Description
-
The genus Moraea is an Iris family relative of about 200 species of exotic, drought-tolerant plants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa. Some Moraea species native in South Africa are cold hardy enough for gardens in the Southeast US.
Plant 5 or 6 corms per 6-inch pot to a depth of 4 inches.
The following are federally listed noxious weeds in the USA:
Moraea collina, Cape tulip
Moraea flaccida, One leaf cape tulip
Moraea miniata, Two leaf cape tulip
Moraea ochroleuca, Apricot tulip
Moraea pallida, Yellow tulip - See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Moraea
- Family:
- Iridaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical & South Africa, Mediterranean to Western Himalaya
- Bulb Storage:
- Store corms in peat or vermiculite at 35-50 degrees F (2-10C) when dormant
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Medium
-
-
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
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Simple & elegant iris-like flowers with nectar guides in center
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Slender, grassy leaves.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought