Ixia Lily

Ixia Lily (Ixiolirion) - Beautiful plants of the Amaryllis order somewhat resembling each other, and about 1 to 1 1/2 feet high, with grassy foliage, and bearing large trumpet-shaped flowers in a loose, elegant manner. I. Pallasi has flowers of the deepest shade, and I. tataricum of the palest, the intermediate shades being I. montanum and I. Ledebouri. They should be grown in an open and dry position—in a sunny border, for example, which is all the better with a wall at the back, so as to catch all the sun-heat possible in early spring, when the bulbs are pushing up their young leaves. The border should be well drained and a bed of light, rich, loamy soil, about 1 foot in depth, placed upon the drainage. When the young growth appears, place a common handlight over the plants—even two panes of glass will be beneficial—and if similar protection is afforded at the latter part of summer, it will tend to keep the soil dry and warm, and so ripen the bulbs. A handful of dry sharp sand placed in a layer under and around the bulbs is conducive to the formation of roots. W. Asia.

Also See: Flowers