Eulophia is a fascinating and highly varied genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae, bringing together some of the most adaptable and characterful terrestrial orchids of the tropics and subtropics. Eulophia is an accepted genus of perennials, native across tropical and subtropical regions and currently lists 286 accepted species. In Africa, the genus is especially rich and diverse, occurring in habitats ranging from fynbos to semi-arid regions and coastal dunes to grasslands, swamps and tropical forests, with sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands forming a major centre of diversity. Many species grow from underground corms, tubers or pseudobulbs, producing pleated leaves and elegant flower spikes that may carry yellow, green, brown, cream, pink, purple or richly marked blooms. Some, such as Eulophia speciosa, are rewarding pot plants with bright yellow flowers, while others, such as Eulophia horsfallii, can become magnificent, tall-growing garden or container specimens with large purple flowers.

Eulophia clavicornis is a South African indigenous species from the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Western Cape Provinces. It is synonymously known as Eulophia hians, Eulophia emarginata, Eulophia obcordata, Eulophia robusta, Eulophia violacea, Graphorchis clavicornis and Graphorchis emarginata. It grows from 15 cm to 90 cm tall. This summer rainfall species bears white, blue-purple or yellow flowers from spring to summer. This species is best sown in spring.