Dierama Erectum 'Autumn Sparkler'

Stiff upright wands sport close-packed clusters of brightest fluorescent pink, upwards-facing and not drooping, bells. It is the last, and the most unusual, of all dieramas to flower, giving colour right into October and November when all others have long finished. The photo here was taken in early November in our garden! The erect stems and open flowers of this extremely unique and desirable introduction give this plant more of an ixia-like appearance than any other dierama. It is a very rare plant recorded from only one small locality in Ngome east of Vryheid in montane South Africa. Along with the unusually marked 'eyes' at the petal bases, and its solid clumped habit, it is mooted that this gem may be the most primitive of all dierama species.