How to Grow and Care for Drimia

Sea squill is a flowering perennial that grows from a bulb. In the fall, the tall leaves die back and make way for the flower spike of red or white clustered petals. This plant is poisonous and has been used in the making of rat poison.

Drimia capensis is a perennial bulbous plant thriving in the arid regions of southern Africa. It's known for its tall flower spikes that bear dense clusters of small, white to pinkish stars. These striking blooms emerge in late summer, perched atop the slender, leafless stalks, contrasting the dusty plains they call home. The plant's adaptations are tailored to survive long periods of drought, storing life-sustaining resources in its large underground bulb.

Drimia multisetosa displays tufts of long, slender leaves that emerge from a bulbous base, a striking adaptation to its dry native habitats. This perennial's tall, unbranched stems showcase dense clusters of small, resilient flowers, often a soft hue of pink or white, attuned to attract pollinators in sparse terrain. Its multiple bristle-like setae provide a unique texture, aiding in water conservation and deterrence of herbivores.

Drimia anomala is a perennial bulbous plant that thrives in rocky habitats. Its tall, slender flower stalks emerge from an underground bulb, bearing clusters of pale, star-shaped flowers with a green or purplish center. The lance-shaped leaves are seasonally deciduous, adept at conserving resources in arid climates. Drimia anomala's distinct floral structure serves as a beacon for pollinators in its native, dry terrain.

Drimia elata is a perennial growing from a bulb with reddish scales and reaching a maximum height of 100 cm. The leaves are long (circa 25 cm) slender (1–2 cm) linear to narrowly lanceolate sometimes wavy with minute hairs especially along the margins. The inflorescence appears between winter and spring (southern hemisphere) after the leaves are already dry. It is borne on a scape up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall and takes the form of a thin dense terminal raceme. The individual flowers are grey-white to purple-brown. They have recurved tepal lobes and dark blueish purple anthers. The flowers are pedicellate subtended by a bract with a small and distinctive spur near its base. The trilocular oblong fruit capsule contains the small ovate seeds.