Rhodohypoxis Fairy Kisses

The Rhodohypoxis 'Fairy Kisses' is a small plant of South African origin that colonizes the soil over time. From its linear foliage, reminiscent of snowdrops, emerge a multitude of small star-shaped flowers. Each one transitions from pink to very pale pink with a pink border, creating a delightful range of colors on the colony scale. They are numerous and succeed each other from spring to autumn. Vigorous, but sensitive to cold, this perennial is cultivated in rockeries in mild climates or in pots for overwintering. Provide it with sunlight and a non-calcareous, humus-rich, well-drained soil. 

This cultivar 'Fairy Kisses' is the result of hybridization between a Rhodohypoxis and a Hypoxis. That is why it is also often found under the name Rhodoxis 'Fairy Kisses'. All these plants belong to the small family of Hypoxidaceae, which is mainly found in the Southern Hemisphere. Rhodohypoxis are plants with small fleshy rhizomes, which form charming and highly floriferous small clumps. The Rhodohypoxis Fairy Kisses rapidly develops into a dense and vigorous carpet, about 15 cm (6in) tall and 30 cm (12in) in diameter. Its small star-shaped flowers appear in masses from May to October, almost making the slender, green leaves with short silky hairs disappear. After flowering, the clump completely disappears until the following spring. The bulb goes into dormancy.

Native to the meadows of South Africa, where summers are hot and rainy, but winters are dry, rhodohypoxis are rather sensitive to cold. Therefore, you cannot leave them outside all year round, unless winter temperatures do not drop below -6 to -8°C. In less temperate regions, it will nevertheless be easy to cultivate them in pots, in order to bring them indoors during the cold season - always ensuring excellent drainage and watering sparingly. They will then need to be divided and repotted regularly.

In the garden or in pots, in rockeries or borders, Rhodohypoxis Fairy Kisses can be accompanied, for example, by dwarf agapanthus such as 'Double Diamond' or 'Golden Drop', by Eucomis Freckles or even by the evergreen Armeria juniperifolia, which will provide winter presence. Other bulbs, such as muscaris or Iris reticulata, which are early bloomers, can extend the flowering period in a small exotic scene.