Ixia Rose Emperor - Corn lily

Ixia acaulis Rose Emperor, also known as Corn Lily, produces spikes of pale yet bright pink flowers, tightly packed like foliage around its slender and elegant stems, which disappear under the flowers in June-July. It is a semi-hardy perennial plant with a corm which naturalises easily in mild climates, in the sun and light soil. It is superb in a pot or planted in a border. Its sturdy stems are abundantly adorned with beautiful flowers which are good for cutting.

Ixias are deciduous perennials with corms, originating from South Africa. They are close relatives of Garden Irises and belong to the large family of Iridaceae. Ixia Rose Emperor forms a clump of 6 leaves in spring, usually a vibrant green, long and slender, alternate and sword-shaped. Its growth is rapid. The deciduous foliage disappears at the end of summer. The thin and rigid floral stems are 50 cm (20in) tall and emerge between two fan-shaped leaves in June. Flowering takes place from late June to late August, in the form of spikes of at least 12, 5 cm (2in) in diameter, cup-shaped flowers, with a tubular corolla formed by 6 fused tepals. The 'petals' are a delicate pale to vibrant pink, enhanced by a dark pink spot in the centre. The brown and fibrous corm (2.5 cm (1in) in diameter) of this plant is semi-hardy, it withstands moderately cold temperatures (between -5°C (23°F) and -10°C (14°F)).

The flowers of Ixia Rose Emperor only open when there is sunlight. They can be planted in sunny borders or meadow-like flower beds, except in southern regions where the sun would burn them, in light and well-drained soil. Choose an open, sunny and protected location for them. They like well-drained, rocky or sandy soils which are moist in spring and autumn and dry in summer. You can plant them directly in pure sand where their hardiness will be even better. Ixias go well with late-flowering spring bulbs, such as allium giganteum, arum, eremurus, and lily. In rock gardens, they bring a delicate and shiny note with nepetas, stipa, and pennisetums. They are perfect plants for containers and pots where you can enjoy their magnificent flowering up close while protecting them from severe winter frosts when they are stored. Finally, they are excellent flowers for cutting.