Chasmanthe floribunda

African cornflag

Family: Iridaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

African cornflag is a naturalized perennial found in northern coastal California, central coastal California, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern coastal California in disturbed areas at elevations below 50 meters. Flowering from February to May, this plant produces scarlet or yellow flowers in two-ranked inflorescences with 20 to 30 blossoms. Growing up to one meter tall with erect stems, it features prominent flat leaves 20 to 65 centimeters long and 2.5 to 5 centimeters wide. Its leaves have a distinctive prominent midvein, creating a bold linear texture against the stem. The flowers are relatively large, reaching up to 4 centimeters in length and presenting a vibrant display in urban and disturbed landscapes.

Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas

Bloom period: Feb-May

Elevation: < 50 m

Bioregions: NCo, CCo, SnFrB, SCo

California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, Marin, Mendocino, Alameda, San Luis Obispo

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.