MORAEA TRIPETALA
Family: Iridaceae
Common names: Blue Tulip (Eng.); Blou-uintjie, Kleinuintjie, Bokuintjie, Rietuintjie, Perde-uintjie (Afr.)
A LITTLE BLUE BEAUTY
We have been enjoying Moraea tripetala since the controlled fire in the Rooiels Nature Reserve in 1996. With their striking dark blue to purple flowers, these little beauties were difficult to miss. Over the years, their numbers gradually declined, but you can still find them flowering around Rooiels, even along the road verges.
They grow from near sea level to high up in the mountains, in both clay and sandy soils, from the semi-arid regions of South Africa to areas with much higher rainfall.
Go hiking in our mountains between October and December — whether on the Klipspringer Route, at Harold Porter or along the Palmiet River trail — and keep an eye out for these beautiful flowers. You might even find them in white, yellow or pink!
Moraea tripetala is considered one of the most successful and widespread species in its genus.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Least Concern.