Ixia Venus - Corn lily

Ixia 'Venus', also known as Corn Lily, has a long flowering period with its numerous star-shaped flowers in a particularly vibrant magenta-pink. Its graceful long stems are hidden beneath the flowers in June-July. It is a perennial, semi-hardy plant with corms that easily naturalises in mild climates, in sunny and light soil. It looks superb in pots or planted in borders. Its sturdy stems are filled with beautiful flowers.

Ixias are deciduous perennial plants with corms, native to South Africa. They are close relatives of Irises and belong to the large family of Iridaceae. Ixia Venus forms a clump of 6, usually bright green, long and slender, alternate and sword-shaped leaves in spring. Its growth is rapid. The deciduous foliage disappears in late summer. The thin and rigid, 40 cm (16in) tall floral stems emerge between two fan-shaped leaves in June. Flowering takes place from late June to late August, in the form of spikes with a minimum of 12 5 cm (2in) in diameter, cup-shaped flowers with a tubular corolla formed by 6 fused tepals. The 'petals' are a vibrant magenta pink enhanced with a bright spot in the centre. The flowers are followed by capsules containing small black and shiny seeds, 5 mm (0in) in diameter. 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 (41°F) and - 10°C (50°F)).

The flowers of Ixia Venus only open when it is sunny. They can be planted in sunny borders or meadow-like flower beds, except in southern regions where the sun would scorch them, in light and well-drained soil. Ixias pair well with late-flowering spring bulbs such as allium giganteum, arum, eremurus, and white lilies. In rock gardens, they bring a delicate and shiny touch. They are perfect plants for containers and pots, allowing you to enjoy their magnificent flowering up close while protecting them from severe winter frosts when they are stored. Finally, they are excellent flowers for cutting.