Ixia (genus)

Japanese name: イキシア
Scientific name: Ixia

[Overview]
A perennial 20–80 cm tall with a corm about 2 cm across.
The stem is wiry.
There are basal leaves and leaves alternate on the stem, both sword-shaped.
After flowering, the aboveground part dies back and the plant becomes dormant.
A spike or panicle bears many 6-petaled flowers.
The fruit is a capsule.

[Cultivation]
Propagate by dividing the corms or by cormlets.
Propagation from seed is also possible, but the flowers may differ from those of the parent plant.
In regions with frost, if corms are planted in early autumn, protect them from frost, for example by moving them into a frame, so that the emerging leaves are not damaged.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
Take care not to overwater; during the growing period, water when the soil surface dries.
Fertilizer is best kept light; if a base fertilizer is applied, none is particularly needed, but for potted plants slow-release fertilizer may be applied before flowering in spring.
If left in place, the corms may rot during the hot, humid summer, so for plants in the ground, dig up the corms after flowering and store them dry until autumn.
Potted plants can get through the summer without being dug up if watering is stopped and they are moved to a cool place.
There are no particular pests or diseases.

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