For a long time there was only one species of 'angel's fishing rod' that was commonly seen, but now there is quite a variety of these unusual plants available. The rod is the flower stem, arising from a clump of iris-like leaves, arching at the top under the weight of the fish, the flowers, a group of which hang from the slenderest of lengths of fishing line, blowing in the breeze. They come from mountains in South Africa, and are normally well able to cope with British weather, even Scottish winters.

Dierama igneum is a species with flowers that are bright scarlet.