Ammocharis coranica

Ammocharis coranica is widely distributed in many parts of South Africa as well as some of its neighbouring countries.

The large growing bulbs occur in desert-like as well as subtropical areas.

Ammocharis coranica is often referred to as a summer growing species. This not entirely true as the plants are winter growing in the winter rainfall areas. In cultivation however, the plants grow at any time of the year if they receive water.

The beautiful flowers vary in colour from creamish white to pink or even red depending partly on their natural distribution. There is also variation in the leaf arrangement and their inclination to the ground. At many Eastern Cape localities the leaves lie in a neatly shaped pattern almost flat on the ground. Near Oudtshoorn in the arid Little Karoo the rather shapeless leaf arrangement tends to be more upright.

Flowering time, at least in the winter rainfall areas, is in autumn. The fleshy seeds develop immediately after flowering and germinate unaided.

The bulbs are easy to grow from seed and should preferably be sown in a sandy soil. It takes many years for the bulbs to reach flowering size. In 2010 six year old Ammocharis coranica seedlings at Leopoort had not flowered yet.


Ammocharis coranica from Kommadagga in the Eastern Cape.


Ammocharis coranica near Oudtshoorn.


Ammocharis coranica with pinkish cream flowers.