Previous plant

Anthericum frutescens

Next plant


The flower of mine.


The caudex of mine.

Author:  Carl Linnaeus, 1753
Family:  ANTHERICACEAE*
Origin:  Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa
Soil:  Mix
Water:  Medium
Sun:  Maximum
Thickness:  4 Centimetres
Height:  50 Centimetres
Flower:  Bright Yellow - Orange - White
Propagate:  Seeds/Bulbs
Names:  Onion-leaved Anthericum
Synonyms:  Anthericum fruticosum, Salisb.
Bulbine frutescens
, Willd.
Anthericum fruticosum, Salisb.
Anthericum incurvum, Thunb.
Anthericum multiceps, Poelln.
Anthericum rostratum, Jacq.
Bulbine caulescens, L.
Bulbine frutescens var. incurva, Rowley
Bulbine frutescens var. rostrata, Rowley
Bulbine incurva, Spreng.
Bulbine rostrata, Willd.
Phalangium frutescens, Kuntze

This member of the Anthericaceae family was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. It is found in the Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini and South Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water year round and lots of sun. The flowers are from white over bright yellow to orange. The bulb will grow up to four centimetres, the whole plant up to 50 centimetres high. 

The generic name Anthericum is derived from the Greek word ανθερικος (antherikos), meaning 'straw', referring to the narrow leaves. The species name from Latin; frutex; 'shrub'.

')Accordantly to the latest taxonomic system; APG IV 2016, Anthericaceae is now part of the Asparagaceae.


A flower of a native in the Cape Province.


Bette photo of the flowers by Egon Krogsgaard, Powo.science.kew.org.