Lachenalia bulbifera aka Red Lachenalia

Lachenalia bulbifera grows from a bulb and lives for years. It comes from South Africa, in the western and southwestern Cape. It belongs to the Asparagaceae family. It grows in subtropical regions. Its common names include pendulous Cape cowslip and rooinaeltjie. Older names include Lachenalia bifolia and Lachenalia pendula. The plant forms clumps and sheds its leaves. It has a clear season of rest.

The RHS gives a height of about 0.8 feet (0.25 metres). Its wider height range reaches 1.6 feet (0.5 metres). Clumps spread to about 0.3 feet (0.1 metres). The long, strap-shaped leaves have bold maroon marks. Upright stems bear racemes, or clusters, of hanging, tube-shaped flowers. Each bloom is about 0.1 feet (0.03 metres) long. Flowers are orange or red, with green and purple tips. The flower stalks have a red tint that adds colour. It blooms in late winter or spring. Chicago Botanic Garden records flowers in January and February. Sunbirds visit the blooms. The plant also draws butterflies.

Grow this bulb in full sun. Chicago Botanic Garden also lists part shade as suitable. Under glass, the RHS calls for full light. It also calls for peat-free, loam-based compost. The plant can grow in light soil outdoors. Chalk, loam and sand suit it if they drain well. It grows in acid, neutral and alkaline soil. Keep soil moist while the plant grows. Let excess water drain away. Use a balanced liquid feed every two weeks during growth.

Change how much you water with the seasons. Give less water as leaves fade once blooms end. Keep bulbs dry until new leaves show in autumn. This dry rest helps keep bulbs healthy and supports later blooms. Bulbs can stay in their pots while they rest. The RHS gives it a hardiness rating of H2. It copes with cool weather but cannot live through freezing. Chicago Botanic Garden lists USDA zones 9–10. The RHS says it takes two to five years to reach full size.

Grow it in patio pots, containers, beds or borders. Its upright flowers also suit use as a specimen plant. In good conditions, bulbs form many small daughter bulbs. Take these off in summer or autumn before you repot. You can also grow new plants from seeds. Sow ripe seeds at 13–18°C. You do not need to prune it. The RHS reports few routine problems with pests or disease.