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Sunflaxes

Heliophila

Also called Sunsorrels, Sporries, Sunspurges

Sunflaxes
Photo: Julie Anne Workman, CC BY-SA 3.0

Heliophila is a genus of about 80 mostly annual or perennial herbs and subshrubs from southern Africa, many of them grown as ornamentals for their blue, white or pink flowers. Most grow best in full sun with well-drained soil and dry conditions, especially in mild, winter-rainfall climates.

Family
Brassicaceae (Cabbage family)
Light
Full sun
Water
Water moderately while establishing, then allow the soil to dry between waterings; avoid waterlogging.
Soil
Well-drained, sandy or gritty soil; poor to average fertility.
Temperature
Mild to warm conditions; generally frost-tender in cold climates, with protection needed below about 0 °C.
How easy
Easy

About

Heliophila is a genus of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae. Members of this genus are either annuals or perennials and some are popular as ornamental plants. Endemic to southern Africa, the majority of the approximately 80 species grow in South Africa, particularly the Cape Floristic Region, while a few extend into the Namib Desert.

Where it grows

Heliophila is one of only two genera of Brassicaceae endemic to southern Africa. The majority of the species grow in the winter-rainfall Cape Floristic Region and the more arid Namaqualand, while a smaller portion extend to the rest of South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, and Lesotho. None of the members of this genus are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Heliophila by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.

The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.

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