Cyanotis speciosa

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Cyanotis speciosa (L.f.) Hassk.

Family: Commelinaceae

Common names: doll’s powderpuff (Eng.), bloupoeierkwassie (Afr.), khopo, theepe-balingoana (seSotho), inkombo, ingonga, umakhothigobile, umakotigoyile, udabulamafu, insonga (isiZulu), ndou muhulu (tshiVenda), umagoswana (isiXhosa).

View other plants in this family View other plants in this genus

Introduction

Cyanotis speciosa is a perennial ground cover that provides all-year-round colour with its exquisite powderpuff flowers that are either blue, pink or purple. It grows naturally in grassland areas with summer rainfall and thrives in a sunny flowerbed or as a pot plant on a patio in a sunny spot.

Cyanotis speciosa

Description

Cyanotis speciosa is a perennial, herbaceous ground cover with long, thin roots and a swollen, U-shaped rhizome. It has bright green, strap-like leaves with purple sheaths. The leaves turn maroon during the cold and dry winter months. The leaves grow up to 200 mm long and 50 mm wide, and have fine, inconspicuous hairs underneath. The leaves form dense clumps up to 300 mm high. The flowers are blue, purple or pink and have densely hairy stamens and conspicuous yellow anthers. They grow on an erect flower stalk that grows up to 500 mm high. The rounded, fluffy flowers bloom all year round, providing striking colour to grassland or a water-wise garden or rockery.

A Cyanotis speciosa plant in habitat

Conservation Status

Status

The conservation status of Cyanotis speciosa is Least Concern (LC), according to Red List of South African Plants. This means that the plant population is stable in the wild and it is currently at low risk of extinction.

Distribution and habitat

Distribution description

Cyanotis speciosa is widespread in the summer rainfall grasslands in South Africa, occurring from the Riversdale District in the Western Cape, through the Eastern Cape into Kwa-Zulu Natal and Free State, North West, Northern Cape, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and all the way to Tanzania, and in Madagascar. It grows in shallow soils amongst rocks, in grassland, bushveld, fynbos and coastal areas.

Derivation of name and historical aspects

History

The genus name cyanotis comes from the Greek words kyanos, meaning ‘blue’, and ous, meaning ‘ear’, referring to the rounded, ear-like shape of the petals. The species name speciosa means ‘showy and attractive’, probably referring to the plant’s vibrant flowers.

Cyanotis speciosa in winter

Ecology

Pollinating insects, especially solitary bees and butterflies, are drawn to the brightly coloured flowers.

Uses

Use

Plant Cyanotis speciosa as a ground cover in a water-wise garden, rockery or grassland garden, with a lot of sun exposure, to show off this beautiful grassland plant with vibrant flowers. It can also be used as a pot plant to liven up a sunny patio throughout the year. Cyanotis speciosa is not limited to beautifying gardens and patios, it is also used as a love charm and its roots are used to treat infertility. The Zulu people use it to break up the clouds and prevent lightning hence the name udabulamafu which means ‘cloud breaker’. It is also grazed by cattle.

Cyanotis speciosa in the nursery

Growing Cyanotis speciosa

Grow

Cyanotis speciosa can be propagated using a variety of methods, including division, seed sowing and rhizome cuttings.

Division: dig out the entire clump and separate the rhizomes into groups, ensuring that each group has at least one growing point and replant in well-drained soil. The optimal time to execute this type of propagation is in spring. Water thoroughly and keep the soil moist until the divided plants are established.

Seed propagation: the seeds do not require pre-treatment, they should be sown in a well-drained soil. Cover seeds lightly with the soil and keep the soil moist until they germinate.

Rhizome cuttings: take 5-7 cm sections of rhizomes from the mother plant in spring and plant them in a pot with well-drained soil. Keep the soil moist until roots form and new growth comes up.

References

Ecoman, Environmenal Landscape Design Specialist. Cyanotis speciosa cv hickman. https://ecoman.co.za/green/green_docs/cyanotis_speciosa.html. Accessed 4 Jun 24.
Hankey, A. 2021-12. Observation of Cyanotis speciosa, Johannesburg, Gauteng. iNaturalist. Online. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/102770109.
Helme, N. 2024-02. Observation of Cyanotis speciosa, Sekhukhune, Limpopo. iNaturalist. Online. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/201347451.
Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. 2024. Cyanotis speciosa subsp. speciosa. Flora of Zimbabwe. Online. https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=112930. Accessed 4 Jun 24.
Manning, J. & Goldblatt, P. 2012. Plants of the Greater Cape Floristic Region 1: the Core Cape Flora. Strelitzia 29. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.
Pooley, E. 1998. A field guide to wild flowers of Kwazulu-Natal and the eastern region. Natal Flora Publications Trust, Durban.
Raimondo, D., Von Staden, L., Foden, W., Victor, J.E., Helme, N.A., Turner, R.C., Kamundi, D.A. & Manyama, P.A. (eds) 2009. Red list of South African plants. Strelitzia 25. South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria.

Credits

Itumeleng Machete and Thabiso Chester Chauke
Pretoria National Botanical Garden
July 2024

Acknowledgements: the authors thank Andrew Hankey, Nick Helme and Geoff Nichols for the pictures.

Plant Attributes:

Plant Type: Ground Cover, Perennial

SA Distribution: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Northern Cape, Western Cape

Soil type: Sandy, Loam

Flowering season: Sporadic/All year

PH:

Flower colour: Blue, Purple, Pink, Mauve/Lilac

Aspect: Full Sun, Afternoon Sun (Semi Shade)

Gardening skill: Easy

Special Features:

Attracts butterflies

Drought resistant

Good potplant

Medical plant

Useful plant

Feeds honeybees

Cyanotis speciosa