A jewel among the South African geophytes, Moraea lewisiae ssp. lewisiae hails from the Bokkeveld Plateau in the Northern Cape province, where it grows in seasonally damp dolerite flats and clay-rich soils. This striking species emerges in late spring with elegant, slender foliage and produces large, showy flowers in brilliant shades of violet-blue to purple, often with intricate markings or a contrasting yellow signal patch, depending on form. Flowers open in the afternoon and are typically short-lived, but produced successively over several weeks.
Best suited for Mediterranean climates, it requires well-drained soil and a dry summer dormancy. Cultivation in deep pots, bulb frames, or rock garden troughs under cover is ideal, particularly in regions with wet summers or heavy frosts. In the ground, it thrives in sharply drained sites with full sun. Water during active growth in autumn through spring and keep dry after flowering.
Hardy to approximately USDA zone 9 (brief dips to the mid-20s °F / around -4°C), though in colder zones it should be grown in a frost-free greenhouse or lifted and stored dry in summer. An exceptional collector’s species and a rewarding subject for the bulb enthusiast.
Photo courtesy of Mary Sue Ittner
A jewel among the South African geophytes, Moraea lewisiae ssp. lewisiae hails from the Bokkeveld Plateau in the Northern Cape province, where it grows in seasonally damp dolerite flats and clay-rich soils. This striking species emerges in late spring with elegant, slender foliage and produces large, showy flowers in brilliant shades of violet-blue to purple, often with intricate markings or a contrasting yellow signal patch, depending on form. Flowers open in the afternoon and are typically short-lived, but produced successively over several weeks.
Best suited for Mediterranean climates, it requires well-drained soil and a dry summer dormancy. Cultivation in deep pots, bulb frames, or rock garden troughs under cover is ideal, particularly in regions with wet summers or heavy frosts. In the ground, it thrives in sharply drained sites with full sun. Water during active growth in autumn through spring and keep dry after flowering.
Hardy to approximately USDA zone 9 (brief dips to the mid-20s °F / around -4°C), though in colder zones it should be grown in a frost-free greenhouse or lifted and stored dry in summer. An exceptional collector’s species and a rewarding subject for the bulb enthusiast.
Photo courtesy of Mary Sue Ittner
