How to Grow Ixia
Ixia hybrids
Ixias are half-hardy South African corms with grassy leaves and wiry stems of star-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer. Plant corms 10cm deep in spring, in full sun and very free-draining soil, ideally against a warm wall. Water while they grow and flower, then let them dry out as the leaves yellow. Lift the corms once the foliage has died back and store them dry and frost-free, or in mild sheltered gardens leave them in the ground under a dry mulch.
In your Leaftide garden 
- Hardiness
- Half Hardy
- Season
- Warm Season
- Harvest
- Single Harvest
- Spacing
- 10 cm
- Height
- 50 cm
- Sow depth
- 10 cm
- Min. soil temperature
- 10°C+
- Start from
- Bulb/Tuber
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Moderate
When to Start
Plant directly outdoors once soil temperature reaches 10°C. No seed starting needed — grow from bulbs, tubers, or sets.
Don't know your frost date? Find it here →
Growth Stages
Approximate days from start
Care Essentials
- Once flower spikes appear, give a high-potash liquid feed every two to three weeks until the foliage starts to yellow.
- Ixia is a South African corm with grassy leaves and wiry stems topped by star-shaped flowers in white, cream, yellow, pink, red or orange, often with a dark eye. The flowers open fully only in sun. Garden ixias are mostly hybrids.
Growing Conditions
- Min. soil temperature
- 10°C+
- Germination temperature
- 15–20°C
Spacing & Planting
| Plant spacing | 10 cm |
| Row spacing | 20 cm |
| Sow depth | 10 cm |
| Mature height | 50 cm |
| Mature spread | 10 cm |
Plant corms 10cm deep and 8-10cm apart in groups of 10 or more. Choose a warm, sheltered, sunny spot in very free-draining soil.
Pests & Diseases
Pest Aphids
Identification: Clusters of small green or black insects on buds and young stems, with sticky honeydew and distorted flowers
- Rub off small colonies by hand or wash off with a jet of water
- Encourage ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies
- Spray with a fatty acid or plant oil insecticide if numbers build up
Pest Slugs and Snails
Identification: Ragged holes in young leaves, chewed shoot tips and silvery slime trails
- Pick off at night by torchlight
- Use beer traps or wool pellets around clumps
- Scatter ferric phosphate slug pellets sparingly
Disease Corm Rot Fusarium oxysporum
Symptoms: Shoots fail to appear or turn yellow early; lifted corms are soft, brown or covered in mould
Treatment: Dig up and destroy affected corms. Do not replant ixias or related corms in the same spot for several years
Prevention: Plant only firm, healthy corms in very free-draining soil and keep them dry while dormant
Disease Grey Mould (Botrytis) Botrytis cinerea
Symptoms: Fuzzy grey mould on flowers and leaves in cool, damp weather; buds may rot before opening
Treatment: Remove affected parts promptly and improve air flow around the plants
Prevention: Avoid overcrowding and overhead watering, and grow in a sunny, airy spot
Growing Conditions
| Min. soil temperature | 10°C |
| Germination temperature | 15–20°C |
| Photoperiod sensitivity | day neutral |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How far apart should I plant Ixia?
- Plant Ixia 10cm apart with 20cm between rows.
- When does Ixia flower?
- Ixia typically flowers approximately 85 days after transplanting.
- Is Ixia frost hardy?
- Ixia is classified as Half Hardy.