The genus Ixia consists of a number of cormous plants native to South Africa from the Iridaceae family and Ixioideae subfamily. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include: sword-like leaves, and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers well-drained soil. They have a specific but not very intense fragrance of vegetables. That is why it is often visited by many insects such as bees.

Ixia polystachya is a form from the Western Cape with white to mauve or purple flowers with a dark blue or purple center. Leaves of this variety are firm with a prominent midrib and margins. They make very good cut flowers.