Chasmanthe Bicolor

Chasmanthe bicolor is a rare winter-growing bulb from a small area of the Western Cape. Fans of silky, sword-shaped leaves support tall spikes of extraordinary two-tone flowers: the upper tepals blaze orange-scarlet, while the lower segments are dark green around a yellow tube. The gaping shape reflected in the name Chasmanthe is perfectly adapted to sunbird pollination, with nectar positioned for their curved beaks. Classified as vulnerable in the wild, this handsome species deserves careful cultivation in a frost-free bulb frame, where cool-season growth and a dry summer rest can be provided.