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Products > Aristea major   Aristea major - Blue Sceptre    Working on getting this plant back in the field but it is currently not available – listing for information only! [2nd Image] Habit and Cultural Information Category: Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc. Family: Iridaceae (Irises) Origin: South Africa (Africa) Evergreen: Yes Flower Color: Light Blue Bloomtime: Summer Synonyms: [Aristea capitata] Height: 2-3 feet Width: 2-3 feet Exposure: Full Sun Summer Dry: Yes Deer Tolerant: Yes Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F Aristea major - A herbaceous perennial from South Africa with rigid, linear leaves. Fragrant 1" wide true blue flowers with purple stamens and yellow anthers bloom on multiple (up to 8) 3-5 foot tall flower stalks in the summer. Plant in full sun. Water occasionally to very little. Hardy to at least 15 degrees F (maybe as low as 10° F). Reportedly resistant to deer and snail predation. A very hardy species that is found all along the Drakensberg mountains. We grew this plant from seed received in 1992 from Kirstenbosch Botanic Garden. It finally flowered 10 years later in 2001! Our plants are now divisions from this original crop. The correct current name for this species is now Aristea capitata.  The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in our nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Aristea major.     [MORE INFO]