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 orientalis is a South African endemic species from the Eastern Cape and Western Cape Provinces where it can be found from Caledon to Bathurst and the Amathole Mountains. It was previously known as Ixia alba. It grows to 50cm tall with linear grass-like leaves. During spring it bears 5-10 cream to mauve-pink flowers.