Sand Ferraria
A bizarre and wonderful member of the iris family, Ferraria divaricata ssp. arenosa is native to the sandy flats and coastal scrublands of the Western Cape of South Africa. It emerges from underground corms in late winter to early spring, producing short, fan-like foliage and star-shaped, deeply frilled flowers in shades of bronze, olive, or purplish brown, often with contrasting markings. The flowers are fleeting—each lasting only a day—but bloom successively over several weeks and emit a musky, sometimes chocolate-like scent that draws pollinators.
In U.S. cultivation, it thrives in Mediterranean-style gardens, containers, and bulb frames where winters are mild and dry. Best suited for USDA Zones 9–11, it requires sharply drained soil, full sun, and dry summer dormancy. In cooler or wetter climates, Like the Northwest it can be grown in pots and overwintered indoors or in a cold frame, which is how we grow it at illahe. Unheated cool greenhouse with a frost blanket for extreme colds. Plant the corms in fall for late winter or early spring bloom, keeping them dry during dormancy.
A collector’s treasure and a fascinating conversation piece for any exotic bulb collection or arid-themed rock garden.
Photo courtesy of James Shao
Sand Ferraria
A bizarre and wonderful member of the iris family, Ferraria divaricata ssp. arenosa is native to the sandy flats and coastal scrublands of the Western Cape of South Africa. It emerges from underground corms in late winter to early spring, producing short, fan-like foliage and star-shaped, deeply frilled flowers in shades of bronze, olive, or purplish brown, often with contrasting markings. The flowers are fleeting—each lasting only a day—but bloom successively over several weeks and emit a musky, sometimes chocolate-like scent that draws pollinators.
In U.S. cultivation, it thrives in Mediterranean-style gardens, containers, and bulb frames where winters are mild and dry. Best suited for USDA Zones 9–11, it requires sharply drained soil, full sun, and dry summer dormancy. In cooler or wetter climates, Like the Northwest it can be grown in pots and overwintered indoors or in a cold frame, which is how we grow it at illahe. Unheated cool greenhouse with a frost blanket for extreme colds. Plant the corms in fall for late winter or early spring bloom, keeping them dry during dormancy.
A collector’s treasure and a fascinating conversation piece for any exotic bulb collection or arid-themed rock garden.
Photo courtesy of James Shao
