From our perspective, the most critical requirement for thriving in a warm climate like the Southern US is a proper dormancy period. We are geophytes, meaning we grow from bulbs, and our life cycle is intrinsically tied to a period of rest. Our bulbs must experience a dry, warm dormancy after flowering to reset our internal clocks and initiate flower bud formation for the next season. In our native South African habitats, this coincides with hot, dry summers. The challenge in humid southern states is excessive summer moisture, which can rot our bulbs. You must replicate our preferred dry summer "bake" by ensuring excellent drainage and withholding water once our foliage yellows and dies back in late spring.
Our bulbs are highly susceptible to rot, making drainage our non-negotiable demand. We insist on being planted in raised beds or on a generous slope where water never pools. The ideal planting medium is gritty and free-draining; a mix of loamy soil, coarse sand, and fine gravel is perfect. Plant us with the very top of our bulb necks exposed above the soil surface; this allows for air circulation and prevents moisture from settling around the neck, which is a primary point of rot. Do not mulch heavily around us, as this can trap humidity. A thin layer of gravel or small stone is acceptable and can help keep our shoulders dry.
Our growth cycle is the inverse of many garden plants. We send up our strappy foliage in the fall, which persists through the winter. During this time, we appreciate full sun to develop strong leaves and roots. Our spectacular flower stalks emerge in the autumn, often before or as the new foliage appears. After blooming, we continue photosynthesizing through the cool winter and spring to store energy in our bulbs. As temperatures rise in late spring, our foliage will begin to yellow—this is your signal that we are entering our dormancy. Please do not remove our leaves until they are completely withered; we are still drawing nutrients back into the bulb.
The high humidity of the Southern US is our biggest adversary. While we appreciate moisture during our active growth period (fall through spring), we abhor wet feet. Water us deeply when the soil is dry to the touch during growth, but then you must become strict and cease all supplemental watering once we go dormant. Let summer rains be enough, and trust that our well-draining soil will protect us. If your summers are particularly wet and humid, consider planting us in containers. This gives you ultimate control over our soil moisture, allowing you to move us to a dry, sheltered spot (like under a patio eave or in a garage) during our crucial summer dormancy.
