Hesperantha is a cormous genus in the Iridaceae family with 79 species. Four are found in tropical Africa, 37 in summer-rainfall southern Africa, and 42 in winter-rainfall southern Africa. Many of the former are found in the eastern southern African Drakensberg in Kwa Zulu-Natal. Most plants are short, 15 to 20 cm. tall or less. A number of them open late in the afternoon or early evening and those are often very fragrant.

Hesperantha grandiflora is a South African indigenous species from the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces. It was previously known as Acidanthera tysonii. Hesperantha grandiflora is a summer growing species that will reach up to 70cm tall. During autumn it bears a spike with one to six pink flowers with the flower tubes curved at the tips on opening. The flowers open as soon as the sun rises. It is normally found on damp grassy stream banks.