Members of the Lapeirousia genus are grown as either hardy bulbs or annuals in the garden.
They reach a height of between 15 and 30 cm (6 to 12 inches), making them ideal for use in either rock gardens or as part of a border.
Lapeirousia bloom from the end of summer through to the autumn with spiky tubular flowers of white, pink or red.
Once the flowering has finished they carry attractive seed pods that are egg shaped.
Anomatheca laxa by Yamada
Freesia laxa by Yuki_alm_misa.
Common Names: Freesia Laxa, False Freesia.
Life Cycle: Hardy bulb commonly grown as a half hardy annual by gardeners.
Height: 6 to 18 inches (15 to 45 cm).
Native: Southern Africa.
Growing Region: Zones 3 to 10. As a perennial in zones 8 to 10.
When growing Lapeirousia outdoors seeds should be sown at a depth of 3 mm (1/8 inch) either before the last frost of spring or in late autumn.
Lapeirousia corms should be planted at a depth of 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) in the autumn.
They like to grow in an acidic dry soil located in a sunny (partially shaded in very hot areas) part of the garden with good drainage.
If starting off lapeirousia indoors then they should be prepared two to two and a half months in advance.
The seeds will take from one to three months to germinate at 12 to 15 degrees Celsius (54 to 59°F).
Once established they should be transplanted in the early spring about 10 cm (4 inches) apart.
Lapeirousia are pretty easy to maintain, though it is very important to keep them well watered in the spring and summer.
If you require more plants then the cormels can be divided in the spring.
It is important to divide lapeirousia every three years or so to maintain vigorous growth.
I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Lapeirousia plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Crocosmia, Ambrosia rtemisiifolia, and Tritonia plants.