Eulophia is a fascinating and highly varied genus in the orchid family, Orchidaceae, bringing together some of the most adaptable and characterful terrestrial orchids of the tropics and subtropics. Eulophia is an accepted genus of perennials, native across tropical and subtropical regions and currently lists 286 accepted species. In Africa, the genus is especially rich and diverse, occurring in habitats ranging from fynbos to semi-arid regions and coastal dunes to grasslands, swamps and tropical forests, with sub-Saharan Africa and the western Indian Ocean islands forming a major centre of diversity. Many species grow from underground corms, tubers or pseudobulbs, producing pleated leaves and elegant flower spikes that may carry yellow, green, brown, cream, pink, purple or richly marked blooms. Some, such as Eulophia speciosa, are rewarding pot plants with bright yellow flowers, while others, such as Eulophia horsfallii, can become magnificent, tall-growing garden or container specimens with large purple flowers.

Eulophia horsfallii commonly known as Purple Vlei Orchid is a South African indigenous species from the KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. It is synonymously known as Eulophia rosea, Lissochilus horsfallii, Lissochilus roseus, Lissochilus sandersonii, Lissochilus sceptrum, Lissochilus transvaalensis and Lissochilus welwitschii. This summer rainfall specie grows from 60 cm to 200 cm tall. This robust plant has pleated leaves with sheathed stalks and yellow midribs. From spring to winter it bears colourful pink flowers with purplish red-brown sepals and mottled dark green spots. This specie does very well in pots. The species is best sown in spring.