Ixia Spotlight - Corn lily

Ixia or Corn Lily 'Spotlight' has an abundance of creamy white star-shaped flowers, contrasting with a carmine red central vein on the back of the sepals and a dark purple centre. It is a semi-hardy bulbous plant which is vigorous, sturdy, and very attractive. Suitable for cut flowers as well as for growing in open ground, borders, flower beds, or pots. It is easy to grow and the corms can remain in the ground. It deserves a prominent place in Mediterranean gardens.

Ixias are deciduous perennials with corms, native to South Africa. They are close relatives of Garden Irises and belong to the large family of Iridaceae. The origin of Ixia Spotlight is unknown. In spring, it forms a clump of 6 leaves, usually bright green, long and slender, alternate and sword-shaped. Its growth is rapid. The deciduous foliage disappears in late summer. The thin and rigid, 50 cm (20in) tall flower stems emerge between two fan-shaped leaves in June. Flowering takes place from late June to late August, in the form of spikes of 15 to 20 cup-shaped flowers, 5 cm (2in) in diameter, with a tubular corolla formed by 6 fused tepals. The cream-white sepals are marked on the back with a cardinal red brushstroke in their centre and the heart of the flower is enhanced with a purplish spot and golden stamens. This plant does not produce seeds. 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 Spotlight only open when there is sunshine. They should be planted in sunny borders or meadow-like flower beds, except in southern regions where the sun would scorch them, in a light and well-drained soil. They prefer an open, sunny, and protected location. They like well-drained, rocky, or sandy soils, 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 blend well with late-flowering spring bulbous plants, such as allium giganteum, arum, eremurus, and white lilies. In rockeries, they bring a delicate and shiny note with catmints, Stipa, and pennisetums. They are perfect plants for planters and pots where you can enjoy their magnificent flowering up close while protecting them from strong winter frosts when stored away. Finally, they are excellent flowers for cutting.