Moraea

( mor - EYE - ah )

At-A-Glance Information

These grasslike, flowering plants need full sun and regular water, and are native to sloped areas of South Africa. Flower stems reach 1.5 feet tall and hold blooms that are either yellow or orange. Foliage will yellow and die off after blooms pop.

Moraea species and varietals

The genus Moraea is a member of the plant family Iridaceae and includes over 220 species. ​These are best when grown in zones 4-24. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Moraea aristata (Blue-Eyed Uintjie, Blouooguintjie)
These flowers are endemic to the city of Cape Town in South Africa and are considered to be critically endangered. These winter-flowering bulbs bloom on the end of stems or short side branches. White petals have blue splotches towards their bases. Each flower lasts about three days before dropping from the plant.

Moraea bellendenii
This species is named for English botanist John Bellenden, and is native to the Western Cape area of South Africa. Flowers produced are yellow, blooming from October to November in the plant's native range. They commonly have brown to maroon coloration towards their centers.

Moraea bituminosa
These plants grow from corm, produce two green leaves each, and reach about a foot tall when in bloom. Flowers bloom from October through December in the plant's native range. Plants are endemic to the Western Cape in South Africa. and were first formally described in 1782. Blooms are yellow.

Moraea collinat (Homeria collina)
Endemic to the Western Cape of South Africa, these plants are common on low sloped areas. Plants reach between 6 and 20 inches tall when in bloom. Flowers are yellow (occasionally pale salmon-pink) and are in bloom from July through September. Blooms open in the afternoon.

Moraea flaccida (One-Leaf Cape Tulip)
These bulbs are native to South Africa, and have become noxious weeds in some areas of the globe, including Australia. Flowers are salmon-colored, and bloom from summer through fall in their native range.

Moraea gawleri
These plants are native to South Africa, and produce beautiful flowers that are cream-colored to pink, marked with reddish veining. Petals have yellow flushing towards their bases.

Moraea gigandra
These plants are native to South Africa, and produce purple flowers with blue and black centers. 

Moraea polystachya
Native to southern Africa, these plants reach about three inches tall and produce foliage that is grasslike and green. Flowers are blue to lilac in color, and bloom from March to May in the plant's native range.

Moraea sisyrinchium (Gynandriris sisyrinchium) (Barbary Nut)
These plants produce purple flowers and are native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean region.

Moraea tricolor
These flowers are native to the Western Cape of South Africa. 

Caring for Moraea

These flowers should be planted in the fall or winter months, 2 inches deep and 3 inches apart. Corms will freely multiply if conditions are favorable. Soil should be very well-draining, they do not like to receive water during their dormancy. Store them indoors over summertime if soil is poorly draining. Store indoors during early fall and store over winter.

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Moraea
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 364 - 365, Homeria collina
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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