Wurmbea stricta (Waterflower)

Wurmbea stricta (syn. Onixotis stricta) is another fantastic winter flowering bulb native to South Africa. It is different to many other bulbs in the fact that it loves moisture! It loves it so much that if it's happy where it is planted it will seed out all over, watch out though, slugs & snails love it. The plant is often called South African Water Phlox, Waterflower and even Rice Flower, it is pleasing to say that this plant is much easier to grow than it is to keep up with all of the names it has been known by.

Wurmbea stricta is a deciduous, winter-growing geophyte reaching up to 0.6m high. The subterranean storage organ is a deep-seated, irregularly shaped corm surrounded by dark brown membranous outer tunics, and produces three narrow, very straight, erect or suberect, dark green leaves that resemble knitting needles. Its striking star-shaped flowers are produced alternately along an elongated spike, the tepals varying in colour from pure white to pale pink. Each tepal has a small claw at the base and two prominent, deep pink glands that produce nectar. Vast quantities of seed are produced in attractive erect, narrowly egg-shaped capsules.

NOTE: This is a malodorous plant with a pungent smell, which it attracts flies amongst other insects in its native range. If you smell something nasty in the garden, thic could be the culprit.