capensis

Blue gray leaves with flowers emerge nearly the same time as the leaves and they are reddish pink in color followed by an attractive reddish inflated capsule.

Plant in full sun, it will not bloom if planted in the shade. The upper one third  bulb must be exposed (above the soil), and the soil must be well –drained, irrigate only when the leaves start to emerge from the top of the bulb. Let the soil dry off as the foliage ripens in the summer, resume watering in September when new growth begins.

Veltheimia capensis comes from a dryer part of western South Africa.