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 divaricata is a South African endemic species found in the Western Cape Province from South-western Cederberg east of Citrusdal through the Koue Bokkeveld to the Hex River Mountains growing in Fynbos on seasonally wet, stony sandstone flats. It was previously known as Ixia latifolia var. angustifolia, Ixia rapunculoides var. rigida and Ixia rapunculoides var. subpendula. It grows to 50cm tall with 3-5 firm leaves. During spring it bears pink flowers on a branched stem. They make very good cut flowers.