Hypoxis hemerocallidea (previous name H. rooperii)
Best known member of the genus. Plants about 100 to 500 mm tall. Leaves clearly 3-ranked, distinctly arching in the shape of a sickle and are hairy all over. Widespread in the summer rainfall region of South Africa, from coast to interior, extending nothwards into Botswana where populations become fewer.

Used for centuries in African traditional medicine and recently recognized in the alternative medicine trade as a 'wonder cure' for its immune-boosting properties.

Hypoxis colchicifolia
Second most popular species in the medicinal trade in South Africa. Plants tall, 250-600 mm in height. Leaves are long and wide and their bases wrap over to form a false stem, giving the plant a tall, erect appearance. Leaves are tough and almost hairless. Widespread from the coast to the interior of southern Africa.

Hypoxis angustifolia
One of the few species used in the nursery trade as it is suitable for cultivation due to its spreading rootstock. Plants are 70 to 300 mm tall and are clump-forming. Leaves are soft and of a flaccid nature. Two varieties are recognized, based on width of leaves. Common along shaded cliff faces in the Eastern Cape, where it grows alongside and occasionally hybridizes with H. membranacea.

Hypoxis parvula
A mountain endemic occurring in South Africa, Swaziland and Lesotho. Prefers moist, semi-shaded habitats among boulders. Plants small, similar in habit to H. membranacea. Flowering stalk with a single flower. Two varieties are recognized by flower colour. Flowers in H. parvula var. parvula are yellow and those of H. parvula var. albiflora are white like in H. membranacea. Excellent for alpine gardens. Produces occasional hybrids with Rhodohypoxis.

Hessea breviflora Herb.—Plants up to 200 mm high; bulb extended into a stout neck. Leaves 2(3), often emerging at flowering, 4–16 mm wide, shiny green, flushed with red basally, surrounded by a prominent brownish red sheath.

Flowers 10–55, star-shaped, 7–15 mm long, pale to deep pink, sometimes scented, stamens slightly shorter to longer than the tepals, spreading, fused into a 1.0–4.5 mm long filament tube. April–May.

Sandy pockets between rocks on lower slopes. Namaqualand, Olifants River valley to Hopefield.

Hessea monticola Snijman—Plants up to 250 mm high; bulb with a long neck. Leaves usually 2, dry at flowering, 1.5–3.0 mm wide.

Flowers usually 10–30, star-shaped, white to pink with deep pink stripes leading down the throat, unpleasantly scented, tepals 10–25 mm long, with crisped edges, stamens shorter than the tepals, the filaments fused into a 1 mm long tube. March–May, usually after fire.

Rocky slopes or elevated, seasonally wet valleys. Piketberg and Cederberg to Houhoek Mountains.

Hessea undosa Snijman—Plants up to 230 mm high; bulb with a slender neck. Leaves 2, dry at flowering, 1–2 mm wide.

Flowers 7–20, star-shaped, glistening pale to deep pink, with a reddish centre, scentless, tepals 6.5–8.0 mm long, with crisped edges, as long as the spreading stamens, the filaments fused into a basal tube up to 1 mm long. June–July.

Seasonally waterlogged sandstone rock pockets. Mountains near Vanrhynsdorp.