There are two species of Veltheimia that bloom at different times of the year. One in spring and one in autumn to early winter. Flower color varies also from reds to yellows. They are very ornamental bulbs from South Africa. Veltheimia bracteata flowers in the spring and is from the eastern part of South Africa. This almost evergreen species grows best in light shade and will benefit from reduced watering in the summer. They have shiny pale to deep green leaves and pink tubular flowers. It can range from evergreen in some climates to leafless for a few late summer months into fall in other climates. Veltheimia capensis is from western South Africa, which has a dryer climate. It flowers from fall into early winter. Growing in full sun will encourage this deciduous plant to flower. Blooms in late fall into winter on rocky slopes. This deciduous species has a dull gray-green to grayish foliage. It reddish-pink flowers are clustered into a dense head. Plant in at least a 6-inch pot at a 1-inch depth with the top just showing above the surface. When growing from seed, ensure that the pots are located in a shady area and receive a daytime to nighttime temperature swing. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Whorled
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire; Undulate
Leaf feel
Fleshy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves are narrowly lance-shaped, thick and bluish-green in color with wavy edges. They are up to 16 inches long and 1-2 inches across and are whorled around the stem.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Pink; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
It flowers in a pendant-shaped raceme with Individual flowers being tubular in shape and average 1-in in length. Flower color varies as does bloom time.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer; Winter
Fruit detail
Large papery 3-winged capsules contain small pear-shaped seeds.