Geissorhiza aspera

This velvety-stemmed geophyte grows 10–35 cm (3.9–13.8 in) tall.^[2] Plants may, however, be larger or smaller than the typical range. Both the soil conditions and moisture play a role in height.^[3] Each plant may branch up to three times, although branching is not always present.^[3] The corm is covered in woody tunics.^[2] The sword-shaped leaves have thickened margins and midribs. Normally plants will have three leaves, each of which is about the same length as the stem or slightly longer.^[3]

Star-shaped flowers are present in August and September.^[2][4] It flowers best after a wet winter. Each inflorescence has between three and seven flowers. They are usually dark blue or violet in colour, sometimes with a darker center.^[4] The northern populations (Olifants River Valley, Gifberg and near Bitterfontein) are often white.^[5][6] These flowers may still be blue on the outsides of the tepals.^[6] The filaments are usually not all the same length, particularly in northern populations.^[3] The green floral bracts dry and turn a rusty brown at the tips as the flowers open.^[3] Plants typically seed in October.^[4]

This species is endemic to South Africa. This species was believed to be limited to the Western Cape until 2012, when a population in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape.^[6] It is found growing between Gifberg and Agulhas, where it is most common on moist sandy soils at altitudes of 70–100 m (230–330 ft).^[2][4]

The flowers are most commonly pollinated by money beetles, which are attracted the darker area at the center of the flower.^[4] It is also known to be pollinated by the Cape honey bee, a Braunsapsis species, Anisonyx ursus, a bombyllidae species and Anthophora diversipes.^[5]