Lachenalia, which belongs to the Hyacinthaceae family, is a genus of bulbous plants from southern Africa. The genus consists of nearly 130 species, most of which are quite short in stature with only a few exceeding 15cm. Many have large, eye-catching and ornamental flowers in an assortment of colours ranging from sea-green or blue to rich red and clear bright pink, often accompanied by attractively marked leaves. A handful of species are found in Namibia, but most are South African endemics with the greatest diversity found in the Western Cape. The genus name Lachenalia commemorates the Swiss botanist Prof. Werner de Lachenal (1739-1800) who was stationed at the University of Basel during the late 18th century. Propagation from seed is easy and straightforward and they are well suited to rockeries and being grown in pots.

Lachenalia pusilla is a short plant with white flowers that are borne at ground level in a congested raceme. The four to six leaves are produced in a prostrate rosette and may vary in shape from linear to lanceolate and are plain or spotted. The peduncle or main flower stem is very short resulting in flowers opening at ground level. This appearance is probably why the species was at one stage included in the genus Polyxena. Due to its geometry this species is probably best suited to cultivation in pots or raised containers.