The Fringe Lily is found in dry hillside locations and open forest, to moist heath and woodland settings.
It has narrow, linear leaves around 50 cm long that grow up from tuberous rootstock.
The flowers occur on branched stems up to 80 cms long, each one producing up to eight flowers. The pretty flowers are mauve to purple - sometimes white, about 25 mm diameter and bloom in spring and early summer.
Each flower only opens for a single day but new flowers are produced over an extended period.
Fringe lilies are not often seen in cultivation despite their obvious beauty. Generally they have proved to be difficult to maintain in cultivation.