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Massonia pustulata
Massonia pustulata is a small bulbous perennial from the Western Cape of South Africa, growing about 10 cm tall with two flat, opposite, blistered leaves and winter-flowering cream or pink blooms. It is grown as a pot plant under glass in cooler climates and needs a dry rest period.
Massonia pustulata, the blistered massonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to the Western Cape of South Africa. Growing to 10 cm (3.9 in) tall and broad, it is a small bulbous perennial with two horizontal, opposite leaves, and virtually stalkless cream or pink flowers in winter. The stamens are longer than the perianth, giving the flower the appearance of a rounded, spiky brush-head. The deep "pock marks" on the leaves give the plant its common name, as well as the specific epithet pustulata.
In temperate zones it requires protection as it does not survive being frozen. Its small size makes it a suitable subject for a pot under glass. It has been given the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Massonia pustulata 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.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
