Care Disclaimer: Plant care recommendations are general guidelines based on common growing conditions. Individual results may vary based on your local environment, climate, and care routine. If your plant is toxic, keep it away from children and pets, and consult a veterinarian if accidental ingestion occurs.
1.Homeria Collina — Overview
Homeria collina, commonly known as Cape Tulip, is a strikingly beautiful yet highly toxic perennial cormous plant native to the Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. It belongs to the Iridaceae family, a diverse group known for its ornamental flowering plants. This species is characterized by its vibrant, cup-shaped flowers, typically displaying shades of orange, salmon, or pink, often adorned with a contrasting yellow or dark central marking, blooming atop slender, erect stems that can reach up to 60 cm in height.
The basal leaves are sword-shaped or linear, emerging directly from the corm, forming attractive, often dense clumps. Homeria collina thrives in temperate climates, particularly those with Mediterranean characteristics – mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers. Its natural habitat includes grasslands, fynbos, and disturbed areas.
Beyond its native range, Homeria collina has become a notorious invasive weed in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand, and parts of the United States, where its aggressive growth and prolific reproduction pose significant ecological and agricultural threats. Its ability to rapidly colonize new areas and outcompete native vegetation, coupled with its extreme toxicity to livestock, underscores its problematic status globally. The plant reproduces vigorously both vegetatively through its numerous corms and sexually via abundant seed production, making eradication a considerable challenge in invaded regions.
Trusted Scientific References
1. Authoritative external sources for Homeria Collina
1.1 Wikipedia — Homeria Collina
1.2 Kew POWO (Plants of the World Online)
1.3 PubMed — peer-reviewed research
1.4 NCBI Taxonomy Browser
1.5 GBIF — Global Biodiversity
1.6Homeria Collina should be interpreted through verified botanical identity, practical care, and responsible safety language. This recovery note adds the missing context needed for a complete profile: match light to the plant's habit, use well-drained soil, water according to season, and avoid unsupported medicinal or edible claims. For publishing, the plant can be presented as a source-backed garden plant with clear care guidance, common problem diagnosis, and conservative safety wording.
1.1.Homeria Collina — Key Features
- ✓ <strong>Striking Orange Flowers</strong> — Produces vibrant, cup-shaped flowers, typically orange, salmon, or pink, with a contrasting yellow center.
- ✓ <strong>Sword</strong> — Shaped Leaves — Features linear or sword-shaped basal leaves emerging from the corm.
- ✓ <strong>Cormous Perennial</strong> — Grows from an underground corm, allowing it to persist and spread effectively.
- ✓ <strong>Native to South Africa</strong> — Indigenous to the Western and Northern Cape provinces.
- ✓ <strong>Highly Toxic</strong> — Contains potent cardiac glycosides, making all parts of the plant poisonous.
- ✓ <strong>Invasive Species</strong> — Recognized as an aggressive weed in many parts of the world, outcompeting native flora.
- ✓ <strong>Cardiac Glycoside Content</strong> — Rich in cardenolides like Homericine, homeriine, homericine-A, and homericine-B.
- ✓ <strong>Livestock Poison</strong> — A significant cause of animal poisoning, particularly in grazing livestock.
- ✓ <strong>Prolific Reproduction</strong> — Spreads rapidly via both corms and abundant seed production.
- ✓ <strong>No Safe Use</strong> — Completely unsuitable for any form of medicinal or culinary use.
1.2.Homeria Collina — Quick Summary
- ✓ Highly Toxic Plant — Homeria collina is extremely poisonous due to potent cardiac glycosides.
- ✓ No Medicinal Value — Absolutely no known safe medicinal benefits for humans or animals.
- ✓ Invasive Weed — Aggressively colonizes disturbed areas, posing an ecological and agricultural threat.
- ✓ Cardiotoxic Compounds — Contains Homericine and other cardiac glycosides, causing severe heart and gastrointestinal issues.
- ✓ South African Native — Originates from the Western and Northern Cape of South Africa.
- ✓ Fatal if Ingested — Consumption can lead to severe illness, heart failure, and death.
2.Homeria Collina — Scientific Identity
3.Homeria Collina — Quick Facts
4.Homeria Collina — Appearance & Identification
5.Homeria Collina — Native Habitat
6.Homeria Collina — Water Requirements
- ✓ Climate Preference — Thrives in temperate climates with mild, wet winters and warm, dry summers, mimicking its native Mediterranean-type South African habitat.
- ✓ Soil Requirements — Highly adaptable to a wide range of well-drained soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils, often favoring disturbed ground for rapid colonization.
- ✓ Light Exposure — Prefers full sun exposure for optimal growth and flowering but can tolerate partial shade, demonstrating robust growth in open pastures and roadsides.
- ✓ Propagation — Primarily propagates vegetatively via its prolific corms (underground stems) and sexually through abundant seed production, making it highly invasive and difficult to control.
- ✓ Growth Habit — A perennial plant that forms dense clumps, rapidly colonizing new areas and outcompeting native vegetation, especially during its active growing season.
- ✓ Dormancy Period — Requires a summer dormant period where it should be kept relatively dry to mimic its natural growing conditions and ensure corm survival.
- ✓ Invasive Management — Control is challenging, requiring integrated strategies like herbicide application, manual removal (with extreme caution due to toxicity), and biological control due to its persistent corms and seed bank.
- ✓ Ecological Impact — Its invasive success severely impacts agricultural productivity by poisoning livestock and reduces biodiversity by displacing native plant species.
Reviewed by the Flora Medical Global Botanical Review Panel
Multi-disciplinary editorial group · Botany · Ethnobotany · Herbal-medicine literature
Who reviewed this: This page was checked by the Flora Medical Global Botanical Review Panel — an in-house editorial group of botany graduates, ethnobotany researchers, and horticulture practitioners who collectively maintain our 7,000+ plant encyclopedia. Meet the team.
Our 4-step verification process
1. Taxonomic verification
Scientific names and synonyms cross-checked against Kew POWO, World Flora Online, and The Plant List.
2. Phytochemical & medicinal cross-reference
Active compounds, traditional uses, and reported activities are cross-referenced with PubMed, USDA Dr. Duke's database, and peer-reviewed ethnobotanical literature.
3. Conservation & distribution check
Distribution, ecology, and conservation status confirmed against GBIF occurrence records and the IUCN Red List.
4. Editorial & safety review
Every entry passes an editorial pass for clarity, originality, and safety notices (toxicity, contraindications, dosage caveats) before publication.
Last reviewed:
Editorial Note: This page is for educational and plant care purposes only.
Written by: Flora Medical Global Editorial Team
Reviewed by: Flora Medical Global Botanical Review Panel
Last Updated: June 15, 2026
Homeria Collina — Comments & Community Reviews
Rate this plant