HESSEA SPECIOSA

This member of the Amaryllidaceae family was given this name by Deidré Anne Snijman in 1992. It is found in southern Namibia, down into north-western South Africa, growing in a well drained soil with some water and lots sun. The caudex can grow from three to six centimetres in diameter, the entire plant to ten centimetres in height. The coconut scented flowers are white to pink.

The name Hessea commemorates Christian Heinrich Friedrich Hesse, 1772–1837, a Lutheran minister who came to Cape Town from Hanover and grew succulents in his garden. The name speciosa from Latin; ‘beautiful’. This is a winter-grower, starting with the flowers.