Drimia

Drimia is a genus in the Hyacinthaceae family (or expanded Asparagaceae family) of bulbous plants that are deciduous or rarely evergreen. Bulbs are small or large, subterranean or epigeal. The one or more leaves are often dry at flowering. The inflorescence is a single to many flowered raceme with short lived (usually lasting less than a day, rarely two days, but with one to three blooms each day) white to yellowish green or brown flowers often with darker keels, erect to nodding but always erect in fruit. These plants are common in seasonally dry or semi-arid regions and many of them flower in late spring or summer regardless of the rainfall pattern. The African species are not generally cultivated because their flowers are not very spectacular and do not last very long.

In A revised generic synopsis of Hyacinthaceae in sub-Saharan Africa (2004) Manning et.al. included a number of genera in this genus once separated as other genera. Some of these were monotypic genera with species formerly included in other genera (Ledurgia, Boosia, Geschollia) and a couple had two species (Ebertia, Rhadamanthopsis). Others with more species that were included: Urginavia, Indurgia, Thuranthos. They included the Mediterranean, North African and western Asiatic species formerly in Urginea including the revived genus Fusifilum in Drimia. African genera once separated as Litanthus, Rhadamanthus, Schizobasis and Tenicroa were included in Drimia. This breakdown includes species in Africa, Madagascar, the Mediterranean area and Asia. In 2018 in Systematics of Drimia Goldblatt and Manning described the South African species. In 2023 some botanists are suggesting new genera or reverting to previous names.

Seeds of Drimia are reported to be ephemeral lasting 6-12 months. However, since the genus Drimia is now expanded to include many previous genera, this information may not hold true. Fresh seeds are always better. They should be sown just prior to the appropriate growing season, in a well-drained mix with plenty of moisture.

To see the species we have on the wiki see Drimia species or click on the species name in the table below.

Drimia species
Drimia altissima	Drimia anomala	Drimia calcarata	Drimia capensis
Drimia cochlearis	: Drimia dregei	Drimia echinostachya	Drimia elata
Drimia exuviata	Drimia filifolia	Drimia flagellaris	Drimia fragrans
Drimia haworthioides	Drimia indica	*Drimia loedolffiae	Drimia macrantha
Drimia macrocentra	Drimia maritima	Drimia media	Drimia minor
Drimia multifolia	Drimia nana	Drimia physodes	Drimia platyphylla
Drimia salteri	Drimia sphaerocephala	Drimia undata	Drimia uniflora
Drimia uranthera	*Drimia zambesiaca