Cyrtanthus breviflorus

At a glance

Exposure: Full sun
Frost limit: −6.7 °C

Cultivation

Easily grown in a moist soil. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it tolerates temperatures down to about -5° if it is growing in a warm sheltered position in a well-drained soil. It is best to keep the plants fairly dry when they are resting. A very variable plant.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe, otherwise in spring. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of offsets after flowering.

Edible uses

A food plant. No more details are given.

Habitat

Small streams, wet grassland or marshy slopes, to 3000 metres .

Native range

S. Africa.