Chasmanthe floribunda 'Duckittii'
formerly Chasmanthe floribunda var. duckittii
yellow cobra lily, yellow chasmanthe · geelpiempiempie, geelkapelpypie (Afr.)
Photo: AVNPlants
Yellow-flowered form of the cobra lily: sword-shaped leaves and canary-yellow tubular flowers in late winter and early spring.
What’s in the name: Chasmanthe: Greek for "gaping flower"; floribunda: "flowering abundantly"; 'Duckittii': for the Duckitt family of Darling, champions of the Cape's wildflowers and the Darling wildflower shows.
“And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the daffodils.”
— William Wordsworth, I wandered lonely as a cloud – Palgrave, The Golden Treasury (1861), Project Gutenberg
Available from AVNPlants: see the availability list.
Family
Iridaceae
Conservation status
This variety is found at only a few locations in the vicinity of the town of Darling in the Western Cape.
Natural distribution & habitat
Chasmanthe is a Cape genus. C. floribunda forms small colonies in damp spots on rocky outcrops, in sunny, well-watered sites.
Size & form
Deciduous, winter-growing corm. Leaves 0.4–1 m tall; dormant in summer, resprouting in March–April.
Flowering
July to September.
Uses in landscaping
- Beds in full sun or semi-shade
- Easy, pest-free bulb for winter colour
Care notes
Well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Water well in autumn and winter (growing season); summer water is tolerated if drainage is good. Increase by offsets or seed; young corms can go into the garden in their second season.
Wildlife value
Pollinated by sunbirds.
Find out more
Facts checked against: SANBI PlantZAfrica species page 'Chasmanthe floribunda 'Duckittii''.