Conanthera is a genus of 3-4 species of small Chilean bulbous plants with small panicles of blue, purple or white and purple flowers in the Tecophilaeaceae family.They are not quite hardy and if grown outdoors should be planted in sandy soil in a warm sunny border and protected during winter from excessive rains and frost, or grown in a frame in colder climates. They prefer light (sandy) and medium (loamy) well-drained soil. They should be kept well watered during their period of growth (fall through early to mid summer) and then be allowed to dry off. Propagation is by offsets or seed.
Conanthera bifolia has corms with an elaborate tunic, netted and frayed. The leafless stem produces many small flowers in late spring. The perianth segments are reflexed and do not form a tube except at the base; flowers are a deep purplish blue with a cone of yellow anthers protruding from the center, a good contrast to the blue perianth. Photos from Bill Dijk
Conanthera campanulata has small purple flowers that do not reflex arranged in a branched panicle. Flowering time for my plants was late June-July. This species did not seem to appreciate my very wet Northern California winters and sometimes the flowers got diseased. This photo by Bob Rutemoeller shows how small the flowers are.
Photo by Mary Sue Ittner showing the flowering stem.
Photo by Osmani Baullosa showing that this species has a tube.
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