blue sceptre

 Aristea major

Aristea major. If you go walking on Lion's Head above Cape Town in early summer one of the most striking sights is Aristea major. With its tall spikes of blue flowers, Aristea major belongs to the iris family. It grows wild along the lower mountain slopes of the southwestern Cape. 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. Aristea major is wonderful plant for gardens in milder climates.The best way to propagate Aristea major is from seed. The seeds are sown in seed trays filled with a well-drained potting soil. After sowing, the seeds are lightly covered with milled bark or white sand, watered well and placed in the shade. Germination is usually very good and within a month. Text: Liesl van der Walt. These seeds will be shipped very fresh directly from South Africa.