BLACK STICK LILY Xerophyta retinervis

Xerophyta retinervis is a deciduous perennial up to 2 metres tall with stout, erect stems. Fragrant flowers appear after rain, and are blue or mauve, or rarely white. The species is tolerant of extreme conditions such as drought, fire, and low temperatures. Strap-shaped leaves occur in tufts along stems.

Seeds per pack: 10

Germination: Surface sew your seeds on top of a sterile seed-start mix amended with 50% sand. The seeds are extremely small and hard to manage. Cover with a very thin layer of coarse sand, about 1/16. Use a mist bottle to saturate the soil mix. Cover the pot with clear wrap or clear lid, and place in a bright window, but out of direct sunlight. Keep lightly moist at all times. Good seeds can sprout in 45-60 days, though some can take as long as 6 months. with careful observation (using reading glasses) you may see small seedlings with about four leaflets each, a little bigger than a coarse piece of sand. This plant is rarely and will reward the patient grower!