Chasmanthe is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, first described in 1932. It is endemic to South Africa where it is found in the Cape Province. It is widely grown as an ornamental and naturalized in various locations. In their native habitat the flowers are pollinated by sunbirds. The genus name is derived from the Greek words chasme, meaning “gaping”, and anthos, meaning “flower”.

Chasmanthe bicolor is a highly ornamental garden subject, which stands out from the other two species in this genus. It is one of three species in the genus, the others being Chasmanthe floribunda, which has a yellow variety Chasmanthe floribunda var duckittii and Chasmanthe aethiopica. This plant is a winter-growing, cormous geophyte up to 1.3 m high. The corm is 45mm in diameter, is slightly depressed and surrounded with several layers of dark brown, scaly leaf bases called tunics. Although the flower is smaller that the other two species in the genus, it is more striking. The upper tepals of the flowers are orange-scarlet, whereas the bottom tepals are dark green with a yellow tube. The flowers are alternately arranged on both sides of the peduncle with as many as 28 blossoms. It blooms from midwinter to early spring (June-Sept.). The leaves are sword-shaped and have a silky feel and look, with a prominent vein in the centre of each leaf. The leaves are arranged in a fan.