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Ixia Yellow Emperor - Corn Lily

Ixia Yellow Emperor
Corn Lily, African Corn Lily

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A small bulbous plant native to South Africa, this corn lily bears numerous spikes of bright yellow star-shaped flowers with a purple centre in late spring, on slender stems 40-50 cm tall. Its narrow, linear foliage disappears after flowering while the "bulbs" or corms go dormant. Semi-hardy (-5°C), it requires very well-drained soil and a sunny position. It is used for borders, in pots or as a cut flower.
Flower size
4 cm
Height at maturity
45 cm
Spread at maturity
15 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -6.5°C
Soil moisture
Dry soil, Moist soil
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Best planting time September to October
Recommended planting time February to March, September to November
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Flowering time May to July
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Description

Ixia 'Yellow Emperor' is a luminous corn lily, prized for its spikes of star-shaped, mimosa-yellow flowers with a strikingly contrasting purple heart. This small, not very hardy South African bulbous plant is well-suited to Mediterranean gardens. Its abundant flowering from late spring to early summer offers numerous flowers per stem, which can be used as cut flowers. Ixia 'Yellow Emperor' adds a touch of light to dry gardens or those in a mild climate.

Belonging to the genus Ixia, a group of cormous plants endemic to the Cape region of South Africa, Ixia 'Yellow Emperor' is a hybrid horticultural cultivar. The designation "Ixia acaulis Yellow Emperor", occasionally encountered, remains in commercial use. The plant forms a clump of very narrow, upright, medium green to slightly glaucous leaves, reminiscent of a small gladiolus. This foliage is deciduous: it dries up completely after flowering, while the bulb or corm goes dormant underground. The plant flowers from May to July depending on the climate and planting date. The slender flower stems, 40-50 cm tall, bear loose spikes of star-shaped flowers in bright to pale yellow, adorned with an almost black, wine-red central eye; they open widely in the sun and remain more closed in overcast weather. It is a bulbous perennial for mild climates: in the ground, the corms can naturalise in very well-drained soil, while in cold climates they are lifted and stored dry over winter. Its hardiness is around -5°C at its limit in dry soil.

In the garden, plant Ixia 'Yellow Emperor' in small, tight groups at the front of a border, in a rockery, or in a large container on a sheltered terrace. Plant the corms in full sun, in sandy or stony, low-lime soil that is rather dry in summer. The flowers hold up well in a vase: cut the stems when half the buds are open. You can pair this corn lily with the warm tones of Achillea millefolium 'Terracotta' or Kniphofia 'Mango Popsicle'. For a more naturalistic look, a few clumps of Stipa tenuifolia, Verbascum 'Cotswold Queen' and the violet pom-poms of Allium 'Millenium' create a light, summery composition.

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Ixia Yellow Emperor - Corn Lily (Flowering) Flowering

Plant habit

Height at maturity 45 cm
Spread at maturity 15 cm
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour two-tone
Flowering time May to July
Inflorescence Spike
Flower size 4 cm
Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour green

Botanical data

Genus

Ixia

Cultivar

Yellow Emperor

Family

Iridaceae

Other common names

Corn Lily, African Corn Lily

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference25287

Planting and care

Plant the Ixia Yellow Emperor bulbs preferably in autumn, in groups of 8 or 10 arranged in a staggered pattern, in a mixture of sand, leaf mould and ordinary soil. The substrate should be permeable and light, but fertile.
Planting in open ground in autumn is only possible in our regions with mild winters, by sheltering the bed under a thick layer of dry leaves.
For planting in pots, use the same substrate, adding crushed horn to support the flowering. Place the pots away from frost and winter rains. As soon as the shoots appear, place the pots in a bright and minimally heated room. Once frost is no longer a concern, place your containers outside, in the sun. From the first summer heat, water more abundantly to support the flowering. After flowering, the bulbs must be kept dry until autumn.

1
7,50 €
5
5,90 €
2
17,50 €

Planting period

Best planting time September to October
Recommended planting time February to March, September to November
Planting depth 10 cm

Intended location

Suitable for Meadow, Rockery
Type of use Border, Edge of border, Cut flowers, Container
Hardiness Hardy down to -6.5°C (USDA zone 9a) Show map
Ease of cultivation Amateur
Planting density 20 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil, rich and well-drained

Care

Pruning No pruning necessary
Soil moisture Dry soil, Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Needs protection

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