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Accession Data:

Lachenalia viridiflora W.F. Barker

  • subg. Lachenalia sect. Lachenalia

  • Common Name: Cape Cowslip
  • Family: Asparagaceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: South Africa: near Friedenberg, W. Cape Prov.
  • Habitat: humus-rich shallow depressions on granite outcrops

  • Description: This strikingly beautiful species has a limited distribution in the Vredenburg district where it is restricted to shallow humus-rich depressions on granite outcrops. It is usually a dwarf species in nature and blooms early in the season.

    The two lanceolate, pale green leaves have longitudinal impressed veins above and may be plain or darkly spotted. Leaves are occasionally pustulate. The inflorescence consists of cylindrical-ventricose flowers; the outer calyx and corolla of a flower (generally used when the two are similar).">perianth segments vary in colour from viridian green to blue-green or turquoise, and have a viridian green central stripe and gibbosities, while the protruding inner segments have whitish tips and a viridian green central stripe.

    Flowering Period: May-July (in South Africa, Nov-Jan in CT)
    Height 80-200 mm

  • Culture: Genus restricted to the winter rainfall regions of South Africa. Bright light with good air circulation. Must have media with excellent drainage.
    Bulbs begin to become active as soon as temperatures begin to fall after the summer. Once temperatures drop, pots should be watered thoroughly once and then wait until new growth appears. Infrequent heavy irrigation is preferable to frequent, light watering which can lead to rotting of the bulb. It is always preferable for the media to be slightly dry rather than too wet.
    Foliage will begin to yellow as temperatures rise in summer and water should be completely withheld and containers moved to a cool, dry location once the foliage has withered.

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 199700028
  • Source: Matt Opel
  • Provenance: near Friedenberg, Western Cape
  • Accession Date: 04-01-1997
  • Bench: 6001 - BPB:6000:Bench1
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 2 confirmed on 02-11-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Liliopsida
  • SubClass: monocots
  • Order: Asparagales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Asparagaceae
  • SubFamily: Scilloideae
  • Tribe: Hyacintheae
  • SubTribe: Massoniinae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006

References (internal):

  • Bird Pollination (ornithophily)
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: Cape Provinces

References (external):

  1. The Lachenalia Handbook, Graham D. Duncan, 1988
  2. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Last accessed on Monday, April 02, 2018.
  3. WCSP (2017). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Last accessed on Monday, April 02, 2018.
  4. Lachenalia viridiflora at ARS-GRIN. Last accessed on Monday, April 02, 2018.
  5. Angiosperm Phylogeny Website at MoBot. Last accessed on Tuesday, 03 December, 2019.

data regenerated on Thu, 24 Apr 2025 15:27:27 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Lachenalia viridiflora

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Asparagaceae

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Subfamily Agavoideae
Tribe Agaveae

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  • Agave polianthiflora
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  • Agave victoriae-reginae
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Subfamily Agavoideae
Tribe Anemarrheneae

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Subfamily Agavoideae
Tribe Anthericeae

  • Chlorophytum comosum
  • Chlorophytum comosum cv.
  • Chlorophytum saundersiae

Subfamily Asparagoideae

  • Asparagus africanus
  • Asparagus densiflorus 'Sprengeri'
  • Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyerii'

Subfamily Lomandroideae
Tribe Arthropodium group

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Subfamily Lomandroideae
Tribe Cordylineae

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Subfamily Lomandroideae
Tribe Lomandreae

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Subfamily Nolinoideae
Tribe Convallarieae

  • Aspidistra elatior
  • Aspidistra grandiflora W/C
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Subfamily Nolinoideae
Tribe Dracaeneae

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  • Dracaena angolensis
  • Dracaena angolensis
  • Dracaena aubryana
  • Dracaena draco
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  • Dracaena parva
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  • Dracaena reflexa
  • Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia
  • Dracaena singularis
  • Dracaena spathulata W/C
  • Dracaena spathulata W/C
  • Dracaena trifasciata
  • Dracaena trifasciata

Subfamily Nolinoideae
Tribe Eriospermeae

  • Eriospermum cf. dregei
  • Eriospermum cooperi W/C
  • Eriospermum corymbosum W/C
  • Eriospermum paradoxum

Subfamily Nolinoideae
Tribe Nolineae

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Subfamily Nolinoideae
Tribe Ophiopogoneae

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Subfamily Nolinoideae
Tribe Rusceae

  • Ruscus aculeatus
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Subfamily Scilloideae
Tribe Hyacintheae

  • Camassia quamash
  • Hyacinthinae: Leopoldia longipes
  • Hyacinthinae: Scilla peruviana
  • Massoniinae: Drimiopsis botryoides
  • Massoniinae: Drimiopsis maculata
  • Massoniinae: Eucomis bicolor
  • Massoniinae: Eucomis vandermerwei W/C
  • Massoniinae: Lachenalia aloides
  • Massoniinae: Lachenalia bulbifera
  • Massoniinae: Lachenalia cf. longituba W/C
  • Massoniinae: Lachenalia ensifolia
  • Massoniinae: Lachenalia rubida
  • Massoniinae: Lachenalia unifolia W/C
  • Massoniinae: Lachenalia viridiflora
  • Massoniinae: Ledebouria socialis
  • Massoniinae: Massonia depressa W/C
  • Massoniinae: Massonia pygmaea
  • Massoniinae: Veltheimia bracteata

Subfamily Scilloideae
Tribe Ornithogaleae

  • Albuca bracteata
  • Albuca bracteata W/C
  • Albuca concordiana W/C
  • Albuca setosa W/C
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  • Albuca tortuosa
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  • Ornithogalum adseptentrionesvergentulum
  • Albuca concordiana W/C
  • Ornithogalum graminifolium W/C
  • Ornithogalum hispidulum W/C
  • Ornithogalum sardienii W/C
  • Ornithogalum thyrsoides

Subfamily Scilloideae
Tribe Urgineeae

  • Bowiea volubilis
  • Bowiea volubilis ssp. gariepensis
  • Bowiea volubilis ssp. volubilis
  • Drimia haworthioides
  • Drimia intricata
  • Drimia platyphylla W/C
  • Drimia sp. W/C
  • Drimia uniflora W/C
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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