Geissorhiza species H-L are found on this wiki page. See the links below for information about this genus and other species.


Geissorhiza indexGeissorhiza species A-GGeissorhiza species M-Z


Geissorhiza hesperanthoides grows on damp and marshy mountain slopes in the Southwest Cape and blooms late spring into summer. It is a sporadic bloomer, often blooming after a fire or when vegetation has been cleared so it has more light. It has one to three blue to violet flowers and a fibrous corm tunic. Photo taken on Napier Mountain in the Overberg by Cameron McMaster.
Geissorhiza geminata, Cameron McMaster


Geissorhiza heterostyla is a blue to purple flowered plant that is found in a wide distribution of the South African Cape and is usually found on stony clay slopes. This species was grown from seed named Geissorhiza fulva which is another species entirely with yellow flowers. Grown by Mary Sue Ittner, photo by Bob Rutemoeller. An additional photo from Mary Sue Ittner shows the corms.
Geissorhiza heterostyla, Bob Rutemoeller Geissorhiza heterostyla corms, Mary Sue Ittner
The next two photos were taken in the Roggeveld. The first was taken by Cameron McMaster in the Komsberg and the next pictures by Mary Sue Ittner September 2006 in the Komsberg and the last near Middelpos. Flowers in the Komsberg populations often have a dark center.
Geissorhiza heterostyla, Komsberg, Cameron McMaster Geissorhiza heterostyla, Komsberg, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza heterostyla, Komsberg, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza heterostyla, Komsberg, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza heterostyla, Middelpos, Mary Sue Ittner


Geissorhiza imbricata is one of the last ones to bloom. As it grows in wet sandy flats, marshes, and next to streams in the winter rainfall areas it needs good water until it blooms. Photo by Bob Rutemoeller of the plant and Mary Sue Ittner of the corms
Geissorhiza imbricata, Bob Rutemoeller Geissorhiza imbricata corms, Mary Sue Ittner


Geissorhiza inaequalis is found on rocky slopes in heavy clay in the winter rainfall areas. Photos taken by Mary Sue Ittner in September 2006 in the Nieuwoudtville flower reserve.
Geissorhiza inaequalis Geissorhiza inaequalis
This plant has been too easy in Northern California where I am finding it appearing all over my garden. It produces large numbers of tiny cormlets around the corm and they flower quickly. Still it is long blooming and tolerant of a lot of rain. Photos by Mary Sue Ittner. The last shows the corms on a 1 cm. grid. They started falling off as I placed them on the paper, but you can still see some of the tiny cormlets.
Geissorhiza inaequalis, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza inaequalis, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza inaequalis corms, Mary Sue Ittner


Geissorhiza inflexa is found on clay flats and slopes in the north and southwest Cape. It can be white or cream and sometimes purple or red. This red one grown from Silverhill Seed is especially beautiful. The first two photos were taken by Bob Rutemoeller of plants grown from seed. The third picture from Mary Sue Ittner shows the corms.
Geissorhiza inflexa, Bob Rutemoeller Geissorhiza inflexa, Bob Rutemoeller Geissorhiza inflexa corms, Mary Sue Ittner
Pictures below are habitat shots. The first taken by Mary Sue Ittner shows a red population flowering near Tulbagh in August 2006 where it was indistinguishable from a distance from Babiana villosa which was the very same color. See habitat shots of both by looking at Babiana villosa. The next picture was taken by Bob Rutemoeller near Paarl in Septemeber 2003 shows a number of white ones in flower and the last photo was taken by Cameron McMaster near Napier in the Overberg
Geissorhiza inflexa, Mary Sue Ittner Geissorhiza inflexa, Bob Rutemoeller Geissorhiza inflexa, Cameron McMaster


Geissorhiza leopoldtii flowers in late winter, early spring. It is found in the Northwest Cape on mostly south-facing shale slopes. Flowers are white, pink or mauve. Photos below from Mary Sue Ittner show a white form grown from seed. These flowers are very reminiscent of many of the white Hesperantha flowers I grow, but are open all day and night, not just in the late afternoon and evening. They are fragrant as well and make quite a display. One is shown when first opened next to a yellow Hesperantha vaginata. The final picture shows the corms on a 1 cm. grid.
Geissorhiza leopoldtii, Hesperantha vaginata Geissorhiza leopoldtii Geissorhiza leopoldtii Geissorhiza leopoldtii corms


Geissorhiza indexGeissorhiza species A-GGeissorhiza species M-Z


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