Chinese lanterns

Chinese Lanterns (Nymania capensis) prefer the poor, well-drained soils in hot dry areas in southern Namibia regions such as the Fish River Canyon, southern Kalahari Desert extending north to Windhoek and on to Otavi, Tsumeb and Grootfontein. They grow best on a very steep slope where their dark-pink bell-shaped flowers, with inflated pink-red seed pods and small leathery leaves, stand the best chance of surviving.

The flowers bloom from July and attract a variety of sunbirds and honeybees. Chinese Lanterns are frost hardy, require plenty of sunshine and do not need much watering or rain.