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 radiata is widespread from Namaqualand to Swaziland, therefore growing both in winter and summer rainfall areas. This species grows on grassy heath and damp grassland, in sandstone, granite and clay soils, in fynbos and renosterveld.