The genus Moraea belongs to the Iridaceae family and is a close relative of the genus Iris. It is accepted that it evolved independently from Iris itself, which is restricted to the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, it is strictly an African genus extending from Nigeria and southern Ethiopia, into the African highlands down to the southern tip of Africa where winter rainfall is predominant. Many are indigenous to South Africa. It is in the winter rainfall area where one finds the highest concentration of Moraea species. They have long narrow basal leaves, sometimes only one per corm and large yellow, pink, orange, or bicolor flowers with six fairly equal tepals. The genus name is a tribute to the English botanist Robert Moore. Moraeas have iris-like flowers. They make good potted plants and are suitable rockery plants too. Most enjoy well-drained soil and full sun to flower best.

Moraea elegans is a rare South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province where it is found growing on clay slopes in renosterveld from Stellenbosch to Bredasdorp. It was previously known as Homeria elegans and Homeria metelerkampiae. The striking yellow and orange flowers with variable bold markings and its extreme ease of cultivation make this elegant spring-flowering species an essential member of any collection of Cape geophytes. The mature plant grows up to 35 cm high and produces a single long, linear, greenish grey basal leaf up 50 cm long.