Lachenalia is a genus with bulbs in the Hyacinthaceae family found in Namibia and South Africa. There are around 110 species (80 of those are found in the Cape region.) Most of these have a dormancy period and grow new roots each year. Polyxena has been transferred to Lachenalia by J.C. Manning, P. Goldblatt & M.F. Fay in "A revised generic synopsis of Hyacinthaceae in sub-Saharan Africa, including new combinations and the new tribe Pseudoprospereae", Edinburgh Journal of Botany 60(3): 533-568 (2004). Those species continue to be found on the Polyxena wiki page until they are widely accepted as Lachenalia. Information about Lachenalia from Don Journet was provided on the PBS list in three posts in February 2007. The first was a general introduction and discussion about growing the species, the second discussed propagation, and the third covered pests, diseases, general discussion, and references.
Species of Lachenalia are very easily grown from seeds given that they are sown at the right time of year. List members have varied experience but most agree that light is not needed for germination. More detailed information about germinating and growing this genus can be found in a post by Mary Sue Ittner.
These lachenalias were being used as bedding plants in Nieuwoudtville in September 2006. They could be cultivars or hybrids although the second photo shows plants that resemble Lachenalia aloides. Photos from Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner.
Find species alphabetically or click on the species name in the table below
Lachenalia A - Lachenalia B-C - Lachenalia Species D-I - Lachenalia J-N - Lachenalia O-P - Lachenalia R-T - Lachenalia U-Z - Polyxena
Lachenalia A - Lachenalia B-C - Lachenalia Species D-I - Lachenalia J-N - Lachenalia O-P - Lachenalia R-T - Lachenalia U-Z - Polyxena