5 Moraea tulbaghensis Seeds - Sow Spring - Indigenous South African Perennial Bulb Seeds

Moraea tulbaghensis Seeds

The genus Moraea can be divided into five groups: Galaxia, Gynandriris, Hexaglottis, Homeria, and Moraea. Homeria which was once considered to be a separate genus in the Iridaceae family is now included in Moraea. There are about 32 species of this Moraea subgroup native to southern Africa. They have long narrow basal leaves, sometimes only one per corm and large yellow, pink, orange, or bicolor flowers with six fairly equal tepals. The leaves of some species can be poisonous and are avoided by sheep and cattle and can then multiply freely. Some species have a reputation of being weedy and they are not welcomed in Australia or the United States because of the agricultural concerns. They are not very hardy so there is little danger of their becoming weedy in climates not to their liking. Although the flowers only last a day or two, some of the species produce flowers over a long period. 

The spectacular orange or brick-red blooms of Moraea tulbaghensis appear in profusion from mid to late spring, yet are seldom seen in the wild, and the species is not widely grown. Although loss of natural habitat has placed it on the Red List, it is highly agreeable to cultivation.