Also called fairy wand, wandflower, and hairbells, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the iris family (Iridaceae) and native to South Africa. In mid- to late summer flowers are produced on thin, wiry, branched stem that arch due to the weight of the flowers. Each flower is two inches long, pink, and bell-shaped. They give way to shiny brown seeds that look like a string of beads. The grey-green leaves are long and thin, and form a grassy mound three feet tall. Plants grow from corms that resemble those of gladioli but are produced in chains, one on top of the other.
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Pink, bell-shaped flowers, 2 inches long are produced on thin wiry arching stems in mid to late summer.
Size: 5’ H x 3’ W
Light: Full sun
Soil: Humus-rich, moderately moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 7-10
Care: Water regularly the first year.
Pests and Diseases: None of significance
Propagation: Seed sown in autumn and over-wintered in a cold frame; division in spring
Outstanding Selection: ‘Blackbird’ (Wine-purple flowers)
Karen Meyers