Wachendorfia thyrsiflora

Wachendorfia thrysiflora is a less hardy perennial plant, ideal for regions with a mild climate where it will thrive in a border, as a standalone plant, or in a sunny rockery. Everywhere else, it will flourish in a pot, protected during the winter. You will appreciate its spectacular yellow flowering that can reach 1.5m in height. It forms a clump of pleated leaves in a beautiful bright green. It enjoys the sun in moist and well-drained soil and tolerates summer drought well.

From the haemodoraceae family, the Wachenforfia genus was named in honour of Evert Jacob von Wachenforff (1702-1758), a professor of botany and chemistry in the 18th century in Utrecht, Netherlands. This genus has 4 species, of which thyrsiflora is the only evergreen one. The other 3 grow in winter and rest in summer. The thyrsiflora species grows wild in the Cape region of South Africa in marshes up to 1200m altitude. It gets its name from its thyrsus-like inflorescence. In its country of origin, it is commonly called "blood root" due to the red colour of its rhizomes. It forms a clump 40 to 50cm wide composed of veined and pleated leaves. Initially a bright almost fluorescent green, they turn bronze over the weeks. In June-July, a very tall inflorescence emerges from the clump, reaching up to 1.5m in height, or even 2m in its native range. It is adorned with golden yellow flowers, composed of 3 petals and 3 sepals. The flowers open without any apparent order.

This plant prefers cool climates and appreciates moist soils, but tolerates drought well. In regions with cold winters, plant it in a pot so that it can be stored during winter in a bright, frost-free location. In the garden, pair it with Kniphofia 'Mango Popsicle' with orange-yellow flowers, a black-flowered arum, and a Watsonia meriana with orange flowers. Also consider ferns that thrive in moist soil, such as Dryopteris filix-mas or Phyllitis scolopendrium.