Ferraria crispa bulbs - at least 2 bulbs
Ferraria crispa is a plant in the iris family, native to the same South African habitats as many of our favorite succulents. Evolved for those conditions, it has thick, short, semi-succulent leaves. Ferraria crispa is also my favorite flower—bold, brash, and delightfully psychedelic.
Cultivation: Not suitable as an indoor houseplant. Best planted outdoors in Mediterranean climates in full sun. Here in California, I’ve seen it thriving from San Diego to Berkeley. It grows from fall to spring and dies back in summer.
The bulbs I’m offering are from one of my spectacular clones—the flower in the pictures.
Can I grow Ferraria crispa where I live?
This winter-growing, summer-dormant bulb is happiest outdoors in frost-free Mediterranean climates (roughly USDA 9b–10). Oregon & Washington: generally too cold for in-ground; use containers, protect from freezes; rare 9a/9b coastal microclimates may work with excellent drainage. Florida: ground planting is risky due to wet summers—grow in pots so you can keep them bone-dry in dormancy. Texas: possible outdoors in the Lower Rio Grande Valley/coastal 9b–10a with sharp drainage and a dry summer; elsewhere, treat as a container plant and shelter from freezes. Best, most reliable regions are coastal California; everywhere else, containers make success much easier. (Rule of thumb: 9b–10 ideal; 9a borderline with protection; ≤8 = containers only.)
Quick care
• Season: grows fall–spring; flowers late winter–spring; totally dry in summer.
• Water: regular during growth; none in dormancy.
• Sun: bright/winter sun.
• Soil: gritty, fast-draining mix; raised beds or pots preferred.
• Cold: brief light frost is okay; protect below ~28°F.
• Summer: keep bulbs dry and out of rain; store pots in airy shade.
For more information about Ferraria check out my blog about them:
Each order includes at least 2 bulbs: one large and one small or two medium sized bulbs. Bulbs will be large enough to flower this winter given the correct conditions.