Homeria flaccida - Cape tulip

The newly named Homeria flaccida, now known as Moraea flaccida, is a bulbous plant nicknamed the Cape Tulip with a single leaf due to its origin and the shape of its 6-petaled flowers that resemble warm-toned botanical tulips. Each bulb produces only one leaf and branched flower stems that appear in spring or summer depending on the climate. This beautiful Cape Tulip is only grown in open ground in coastal gardens spared from heavy frosts. Elsewhere, the bulbs can be planted in a nice pot to decorate the terrace or balcony during the summer. They should be overwintered in a cool, almost dry place.

The Moraea flaccida belongs to the family of irises, just like irises and corn lilies (Ixia) to which it bears a resemblance. This botanical species is native to the Cape region in South Africa, which has a humid Mediterranean climate in winter and a dry climate in summer. It is a perennial herbaceous plant with a storage organ called a corm. In a pot, it flowers from May to July depending on the climate, and the flowering period lasts for 4 to 6 weeks. When grown in open ground in favorable climates, the Cape Tulip will bloom earlier in spring and go dormant in summer. The vegetation usually consists of a single long, narrow, linear leaf that wraps around the base of the flower stem. This bright green leaf can measure up to 1m (3ft) long and 6mm (0in) to 2cm (1in) wide. Some foliar bracts are also present on the upper part of the stems. The flower stems are erect, measuring 50 to 60cm (20 to 24in) high, sometimes slightly zigzagging, cylindrical, with a few branches at the top. Flowers measuring 3 to 8cm (1 to 3in) in diameter bloom at the end of the branches. Each flower consists of 6 elongated petals, usually orange or salmon pink with a yellow centre, occasionally entirely yellow with a slightly darker centre. The fruit is a green capsule that turns brown when ripe and contains small brown seeds. Some time after flowering, the vegetation dries up and the plant goes dormant. The corm of the Cape Tulip perishes below -5°C (23°F) and is sensitive to excessive moisture during the dormant period.

The Homeria is an unusual small bulbous plant that is often used to decorate the terrace or balcony during the summer months. On the Atlantic or Mediterranean coast, it can be planted in well-drained beds or rockeries alongside Felicia, Gazania, or Cape Marguerites (Osteospermum), for example. These beautiful South African plants thrive under the same growing conditions.