Plant Profile
Aristea Capitata
Common names: Aristea Major Andrews
Plant Type :
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Evergreen :
Indigenous :
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Bulb
Up to 1.5 m
Evergreen
Indigenous
None
Lots of water
Enriched Soil
Wind Resistant
Some Frost
In early summer, one of the most striking sights is the tall blue spikes of Aristea capitata, a member of the Iris family. It grows wild along the lower mountain slopes of the southwestern Cape.
Growing in the garden the plants require full sun to semi-shade and a rich soil that is well-drained, but not too dry and sandy. During the winter and spring the plants require plenty of water.
Foliage
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Use :
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The plants form thick clumps of long strap-shaped evergreen leaves, which stand upright to 1.5 metres.
Flower
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Spring
Dark Purple , Lilac , Lavender , Purple Blue , Blue , Dark Blue , Mauve
Decorative , For Vase
Unspecified
- Flower morphology
The flowers are formed along the top part of the stem, tightly arranged on little branches forming small bunches of buds. There are a few hundred flowers along each stem, but they open only a few at a time and last for less than a day. The 6 bright blue petals of each flower open wide, creating a flat saucer of about 25 mm across with the 3 yellow anthers and sword-shaped stigma in the centre.
By the afternoon the open flowers start to wilt and close with the petals twisting around each other. The flowers are pollinated by pollen-collecting bees that are active early in the day. The old flowering stems remain upright for months after flowering and are quite attractive, turning a rich brown colour.
NOTES
If one is planting an indigenous garden, this is an excellent plant to combine with restios, proteas and buchu for a fynbos look.