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 monticola is a rare, range-restricted South African endemic species found in the Western Cape province’s high peaks in the Du Toit’s Kloof, Wemmershoek and Franschhoek mountains growing amongst fynbos on sandstone rocks and cliffs above 1200 m. During summer it bears striking pink flowers.