Trachyandra is placed in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. The name Trachyandra is derived from the Greek words, trachy, meaning rough, and andro, meaning male, and refers to the scabrid (hairy) filaments of the stamens. There are ± 55 species that mainly occur in southern Africa, particularly the Western Cape, but some species extend into tropical Africa as far as Somalia. They are mostly perennial bulbous plants.

Trachyandra hirsutiflora is a South African endemic species from the Western Cape Province. It was previously known as Anthericum hirsutiflorum and Anthericum pilossisimum. It grows to 60cm tall and from winter to spring it bears white flowers on a tomentose raceme. The reverse side of the flowers are pink. This species is very well suited to pot culture.