Chasmanthe floribunda
African cornflag
(c) Conrad Altmann, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Conrad Altmann · licence
Family: Iridaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Chasmanthe floribunda (African cornflag) is a non-native California herb in the Iridaceae family, recognized by South African ornamental bulb naturalizing in coastal disturbed habitats.
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.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: South African ornamental bulb naturalizing in coastal disturbed habitats
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Disturbed areas
Elevation: < 50 m
California counties: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, Marin, Mendocino, Alameda, San Luis Obispo
Outside California: native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Chasmanthe floribunda blooms Feb-May.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Crocosmia: Chasmanthe has rigidly upright spikes; Crocosmia's flower spikes arch gracefully over.; vs Anigozanthos: Chasmanthe has a bulging flower tube; Anigozanthos has fuzzy tubular flowers that don't flare abruptly.; vs Watsonia: Chasmanthe has unequal flower lobes; Watsonia has six roughly equal lobes and flowers in two neat rows.; vs Iris: Chasmanthe has tubular flowers in erect spikes; Iris has broad petal-like style branches and drooping outer sepals.; vs Aloe: Chasmanthe has bulging tubular flowers; Aloe has succulent leaves and tubular flowers without the bulge.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chasmanthe floribunda native to California?
No. Chasmanthe floribunda is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Chasmanthe floribunda bloom?
Chasmanthe floribunda blooms Feb-May.
Where in California does Chasmanthe floribunda grow?
Chasmanthe floribunda occurs in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Monterey, Orange, San Diego, Marin, Mendocino, Alameda and other counties, at elevations of < 50 m.
What plant family does Chasmanthe floribunda belong to?
Chasmanthe floribunda is in the Iridaceae family, genus Chasmanthe.
Is Chasmanthe floribunda invasive in California?
Chasmanthe floribunda is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.