Easy-to-Find Cape Bulbs for Summer Watering Tolerance

These South African bulbs tolerate light to moderate summer watering, making them adaptable garden additions.

African Corn Lily (Ixia)

Cup-shaped, 2-inch flowers in white, pink, red, lavender, and yellow with dark centers. Plants grow 18–20 inches tall. Zones 7–9, 12–24.

Baboon Flower (Babiana)

Mostly blues and purples; also white. 8–12 inches tall with 2-inch tubular flowers. Some varieties fragrant. Zones 4–24.

Flame Freesia (Tritonia crocata)

Funnel-shaped bright orange or red flowers, long-lasting in vases. Grows 12–24 inches tall. Zones 9, 13–24.

Freesia

Tubular flowers in a full color range—yellow, orange, red, pink, lavender, purple, blue, white—on 12- to 18-inch plants. Many fragrant, especially creamy white F. alba. Zones 8–9, 12–24.

Harlequin Flower (Sparaxis)

Blooms have red, orange, yellow, purple, or white petals around a yellow center outlined in black. Good cut flowers. Plants 10–12 inches tall. Zones 9, 12–24.

Watsonia

Flowers similar to gladiolus but smaller and more numerous; pink, rose, apricot, white. Excellent cut flowers. Zones 4–9, 12–24.