Kenya hyacinth

Frost Tolerance: Keep above 40°F (5°C)

Sun Exposure: Light shade to full sun

Origin: Eastern Africa (Burundi, Kenya)

Watering Needs: Does better with regular water

Propagation: Leaf cuttings, rosette division, runners

The Kenya Hyacinth is a relatively fine-textured species with narrow, reflexing leaves about 8 to 16 inches long (20 to 40 cm) and 0.5 to 1 inch wide (1.2 to 2.5 cm). Rosettes are composed of 6 to 12 medium green leaves with dark green cross-bands. Some plants send runners terminated with small plantlets.

Propagation:
Use 4 inch segments of leaves (10 cm) for leaf cutting. Make sure to keep track of which side of the cutting is the top and which is the bottom. Insert the leaf cutting 1 to 1.5 inches (3-4 cm) in rooting medium. If the top side of the cutting is mistakenly inserted in the medium, it will not grow. The medium should be moist, but not wet, and the temperature should be around 75°F (24°F). If the medium is too cold or too wet, the cutting will probably rot. Roots start forming in 3 to 4 weeks, and a couple of months are needed to see the first leaves. Each cuttings might produce several plantlets.