Cyanella orchidiformis

Cyanella orchidiformis is a small plant called lady's hand. It belongs to the Tecophilaeaceae family. Its native range lies in South Africa's Western Cape. Kew classes it as a tuberous geophyte of desert or dry shrubland. This means it has an underground storage organ. Plants For A Future describes that organ as a bulb. The plant reaches about 1 foot [0.3 metres] tall.

In the wild, it grows on rocky flats and slopes. These include lower and middle slopes, often with wet ground. This local habitat adds detail to its broad dry-region range. In gardens, it prefers moist soil that drains well. Light, sandy soil suits it best. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Although it can grow in light shade, cultivation guidance favours warm, sunny sites.

A bed beside a south-facing wall offers a suggested growing site. Frost limits where gardeners can keep it outdoors. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 8–11, but also calls it frost tender. In mild parts of Britain, a good mulch may help outdoor plants survive. The source's older UK zone number does not give an RHS hardiness rating. It gives no precise frost limit for this species.

Planting time affects when flowers appear in cultivation. Autumn planting can give spring flowers; spring planting can give summer flowers. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate them. Plants raised from seed take three to four years to flower. The evidence gives no flower colour or fruit details. It also gives no leaf or stem description. These gaps limit a fuller account of its appearance.

Plants For A Future advises planting bulbs about 0.5 feet [0.15 metres] deep. It recommends lifting them once the top growth dies back. Dry them, then keep them cool until replanting time. Sow seed thinly under glass in autumn. Keep seedlings in their first pot for a year. Offsets offer another way to raise plants during dormancy. Grow small offsets under cover before planting them out. The source records the cooked bulb as edible, with a low food-use rating. It lists no known hazards, but this does not establish pet safety. It records no medicinal or other uses, and reports no weed potential.