Cyanella lutea aka Cyanella Lutea

Cyanella lutea is a small plant in the Tecophilaeaceae family. Its common names include lady's hand and five fingers. Its native range runs from southern Namibia into South Africa. This includes the Cape provinces and the Free State. Kew classes it as a tuberous geophyte from a subtropical climate. In the wild, it grows mainly on clay or limestone flats.

The plant grows from a deeply set corm. Plants For A Future gives its height as about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres]. Its spread is about 0.3 feet [0.1 metres]. The corm helps established plants cope with drought. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate the flowers. Plants raised from seed take three to four years to flower. Planting time can shift the flowering season in cultivation.

Choose a warm, sunny site with soil that drains well. Plants For A Future recommends light, sandy soil for garden use. This differs from the clay and limestone flats of its wild habitat. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. The same source records some tolerance of light shade. It prefers moist soil but withstands dry spells once established. A bed beside a south-facing wall provides the warmth it needs. The source also lists sites beside west-facing walls.

Frost limits where gardeners can grow this plant outdoors. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11 but calls it frost tender. In mild areas, mulch can help protect outdoor plants. Plant corms about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] deep in autumn for spring flowers. Spring planting can instead lead to summer flowers. The source also describes lifting corms once growth dies down. Dry them, then keep them somewhere cool until replanting. Divide offsets while the plant is dormant.

Seed offers another way to raise new plants. Sow it thinly under glass in autumn. Keep seedlings in their first pot for a year. An occasional liquid feed helps prevent a shortage of nutrients. Grow small corms under cover until they reach flowering size. Set plants outdoors in spring after the last expected frost. Plants For A Future records the cooked underground part as edible, with a low food-use rating. It reports no known hazards, but this does not establish safety for pets. It lists no known medicinal or other uses. The supplied evidence gives no specific pest or disease problems.