Lachenalia aloides var. aurea (opal flower)

Japanese name: ラケナリア アロイデス アウレア
Scientific name: Lachenalia aloides var. aurea

[Overview]
A perennial with an underground bulb.
The bulb is a tunicate-type bulb, with scale leaves arranged in layers.
Two leaves grow from the base; they are linear, fleshy, and entire.
The leaves have dark purple spots.
A thick flower stalk 30 cm tall rises from the center of the leaves and bears 10–20 flowers in a raceme.
The flower stalk has dark purple spots.
The flowers are tubular, 3 cm long, hang downward, and are deep orange-yellow.
The buds are brown.
The fruit is a capsule.
After flowering, the leaves die back and the plant goes dormant.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by division of bulbs.
Propagation from seed or leaf cuttings is also possible, but it takes a long time to flower.
It prefers a sunny site with soil that is well drained, retains water well, and is well aerated.
In winter, protect it from frost or bring it indoors to a sunny place.
From sprouting until the leaves die back, water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
If base fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizer is particularly necessary.
It can be left planted for 2–3 years.
In that case, when the leaves die back and it enters dormancy, move it to cool shade out of the rain.
If lifting the bulbs, do so when flowering has finished and the leaves begin to die back.
After lifting, dry them for 2–3 days in airy shade, remove the stems and leaves, and store them in the same kind of place until planting in autumn.
When flowering is over, cut the flower stalk off at the base.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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