In Afrikaans Wachendorfia thyrsiflora is known as the rooikanol. It has a reddish underground rootstock to justify the common name.

The plant has deservedly made it into the horticultural world where it finds a place in gardens with full sun and ample water.

The rhizomes contain cell-sap that produces their colour and can be used to make a red-brown dye. Medicinal use of the redroot is not known (www.plantzafrica.com).