Chasmanthe
( chas - MAN - thay )
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At-A-Glance InformationThe genus Chasmanthe, commonly called African Corn Flag or Cobra Lily, is comprised of species which grow from corm and naturally grow in shrublands and forest edges. These drought-tolerant perennial flowers require full sun to partial shade and do not need formal irrigation after they are established in the landscape. The nectar produced by the bright flowers is attractive to hummingbirds. Species are native to South Africa. Strappy leaves reach 2 feet tall and form fans in early fall. Flower spikes grow to 3.5 feet tall on average, and bear bright orange-red flowers in winter and early springtime. These are hardy plants, though the flower buds can be damaged by late frosts.
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Chasmanthe Species and Varietals
The genus Chasmanthe is a member of the plant family Iridaceae and includes just three species. The genus name is derived from the Greek words chasme (gaping) and anthos (flower), referring to the open flowers with their large, extended upper petal. Chasmanthe grows best in zones 13 and 15-24, though they can be grown in most climates if the corms are dug up and stored during their dormant period. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.
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Chasmanthe aethiopica (Cobra Lily) Flower spikes in this species are unbranched, and hold blossoms on just one side. The species is native to Cape Province, and has naturalized in many areas including Portugal, Spain, Madeira, and the Canary Islands. Individual plants reach up to 20 inches tall when in bloom. Flowers are bright orange to scarlet-colored and are long, curved and tubular, borne on an unbranched stem. |
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Chasmanthe bicolor (Red-And-Green Cobra Lily) This species is native to Cape Province and is naturalized in California, Italy, and Great Britain. Flowers are salmon-orange and yellow-green. Individual plants reach up to between 28 and 36 inches tall when mature and in bloom, and flowers are present between the middle of winter and early spring in the species' native range. |
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Chasmanthe floribunda (Pennants, Adam's Rib, African Cornflag) Flower spikes are either unbranched or branch just one time, and blossoms are held on both sides. There are approximately 12-28 orange-yellow flowers per spike. Plants can grow to reach up to between 27 and 40 inches tall when in bloom. The species is considered weedy in some areas, including Northern California. Subspecies Chasmanthe floribunda duckitii has pale yellow blooms. Cultivar 'Saturnus' has dark purple flowering stems and produces orange-red tubular flowers with yellow throats. |
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Caring for Chasmanthe
These perennial herbaceous plants prefer to be planted in a spot that receives full sun; in warmer climates, make sure they receive a little shelter from late afternoon direct sun rays, as it can burn foliage. Ideally, these flowers should receive between 6 and 8 hours of direct sun each day for the best bloom production. Corms can be planted in late summer to fall in well-draining soil with a pH of between 6.1 and 7.3 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Space corms several inches apart for best coverage. After planting African Corn Flag, mulch around the base of the plant with organic mulching material to help retain soil moisture and suppress weed growth. Keep mulch away from the plant stems, as this can encourage an environment for root rot issues to take hold. Water new plantings regularly until they develop a strong root system. At maturity, these plants are considered to be very drought-tolerant, but will produce more flowers if they are given supplemental waterings during their active growth periods in spring and summertime. As a general rule of thumb, irrigate when the top two inches of soil feels dry to the touch.
To fertilize, apply a 2-inch blanket of compost to the planting area each year. Pull back mulch, apply compost and work it into the soil, apply some water, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this nutrient load should be sufficient to carry plants through their active growing and flowering seasons in spring and summertime. Chasmanthe plants are very easy to care for and typically do not need to be pruned in any way. For a neater appearance, simply remove yellowing or dead foliage and spent flower spikes (if you will not be collecting seed). In areas that receive a lot of winter wetness, dig up corms after foliage dies back so that they don't rot out in the ground. Replant them in springtime after the last threat of frost has passed. In warmer regions, corms can be left in the ground, but will need to be divided every four to seven years or so. For instructions on how to divide these plants, see the Propagation section below. To prune these plants, cut back foliage once it has completely browned out and died. New foliage will emerge in the next season.
To fertilize, apply a 2-inch blanket of compost to the planting area each year. Pull back mulch, apply compost and work it into the soil, apply some water, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this nutrient load should be sufficient to carry plants through their active growing and flowering seasons in spring and summertime. Chasmanthe plants are very easy to care for and typically do not need to be pruned in any way. For a neater appearance, simply remove yellowing or dead foliage and spent flower spikes (if you will not be collecting seed). In areas that receive a lot of winter wetness, dig up corms after foliage dies back so that they don't rot out in the ground. Replant them in springtime after the last threat of frost has passed. In warmer regions, corms can be left in the ground, but will need to be divided every four to seven years or so. For instructions on how to divide these plants, see the Propagation section below. To prune these plants, cut back foliage once it has completely browned out and died. New foliage will emerge in the next season.
Propagation
Chasmanthe, or African Corn Flag, can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your African Corn Flag plant, follow the instructions below:
Propagating Chasmanthe by Seed
Propagating Chasmanthe by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
Propagating Chasmanthe by Seed
- Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
- Harvest your seeds. The seed pods on plants are pretty easy to spot, they're left behind after flowers have faded. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will continue to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
- In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 2-6 weeks from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
- Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Propagating Chasmanthe by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (12 inch pots will do, and these are only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. To propagate by division, follow these steps:
- Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the corm(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
- Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick corm section attached.
- Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
- Apply a thick layer of mulch over the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.
Seed pods on Chasmanthe plants will dry out and shrivel, leaving the seeds still attached to stems.
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Chasmanthe seeds are round and bright orange.
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Problems and Pests
Chasmanthe, or African Corn Flag, can be susceptible to developing issues with the following:
- Aphids
- Spider Mites
- Scale Insects
- Root Rot
Gallery
Chasmanthe floribunda duckitii has yellow flowers.
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Here, Chasmanthus is planted in front of Juncus.
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This bed features Clover and African Corn Flag.
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Grow these plants in areas that typically are hard to grow in; they will thrive.
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Many gardeners choose to mass plants together for a stunning flower show.
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Flowers fade to reveal large seed pods that contain bright orange seeds.
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Videos
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An introduction to African Flag plants.
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Learn how to grow these ornamentals in your garden.
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Resources
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 236, Chasmanthe
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