Intriguing and exotic-looking flowers appear in a rounded umbel in autumn, adding much-needed late colour to sheltered borders or pots. Native to arid habitats in southern Africa, these bulbous perennials are hardy but will need a sunny position, ideally with the protection of a south-facing wall. Excellent for cutting and adding to a vase, they can also be grown in pots and brought inside for a short period while in flower. Flowering best when slightly crowded, plant the bulbs at 10-15cm intervals, with their tip just above the surface of the soil. Protect the crown from hard frosts with a generous layer of dry mulch after flowering, or overwinter potted plants in an unheated greenhouse in colder regions.