Ixia

A rather remarkable range of cormous perennials from South Africa. Incredible range of flower colour, often with a contrasting central ring, on the daintiest of long stems, so appearing to hover above other perennials. Stars.

Despite originating from South Africa, their highly fragrant flowers are much visited by bumblebees, honeybees and hoverflies, the latter especially for pollen on the exserted stamens. Valuable plants for a summer, dry wildlife garden. A couple of species have become naturalized outside the bulb-fields of the Isles of Scilly.