Bulbine
Bulbine frutescens
Marie Harrison is a Master Gardener Volunteer with the University
of Florida IFAS Extension in Okaloosa County . She is a
member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Federation of
Garden Clubs, and an Accredited Flower Show Judge and
Floral Design Instructor. Her book, Gardening in the Coastal South,
is now available in local bookstores. Visit her website at
http://mariesgarden.com.
Try Bulbina in a Hot, Sunny Area
Sometimes gardeners are introduced to unfamiliar plants in interesting ways. Often we run into them at nurseries or garden centers and long to try them for ourselves. More usually, though, we see them growing in friends’ and neighbors’ yards.
My introduction to Bulbine ‘Hallmark’ took place when I visited a gardening friend and neighbor. Often I walk by her house to see what is growing, and I am never disappointed, for she visits nurseries often and is not afraid to try new things. Through her experiments I have been introduced to many plants that I might have otherwise never known.
One of the most recent introductions from her garden
is Bulbine frutescens. Sometimes called bulbinella and
several other common names, it is a succulent, evergreen perennial
groundcover. Fleshy green leaves similar to
onion leaf blades arise from the base. Plants spread by rhizomes
to create lumps. Small, six-petaled starshaped
orange or yellow flowers with fluffy yellow stamens bloom on stalks
held two or three feet above the
foliage in spring through summer. Fruit is a small, rounded capsule
containing black seeds which are easily
dispersed by the wind.
Bulbine prefers full sun but can tolerate some shade. Since it is native to the desert grasslands of South Africa , it requires well-drained soil and is tolerant of very poor, dry soil.
Maintenance is minimal. Deadhead to promote flowering. Be careful not to overwater, especially in fall and winter. Although it can withstand light frost, a mulch may offer winter protection. Freedom from pests and diseases and low nutrient needs make it an easy-to-care-for addition to the garden.
Propagation may be accomplished several ways. Bulbine
self sows freely, so seedlings may appear around the
mother plant. Transplant seedlings when they have four leaves and
well-formed root systems. Starting new
plants is as easy as simply breaking off plantlets and potting
them up until they are large enough to be planted
in the garden.
Division of clumps in spring yields many new plants. One gardener
from Texas reports that she grows Bulbine
in containers and divides it every 3-4 months, at which time it
has filled her containers to capacity.
The cultivar ‘Hallmark’ is self sterile, so seedlings will not
be produced. It is smaller and tidier than the species,
topping out at 8-10 inches and spreading to about two feet. I was
lucky enough to find a start of this cultivar at
Niceville Garden Center , so I know that it is available in our
area.
No other cultivars were uncovered during my research, but both the cultivar and the species are easy-to-grow, water-wise, floriferous groundcovers which require a minimum of care. Some references refer to it as Bulbine fruticosa, and Bulbine caulescens is listed as a synonym, so it may be found under either of those names.
Fresh leaves provide a jelly-like substance much like the Aloe plant that can be used for treating burns, rashes, blisters, insect bites, and cracked areas of the skin. Succulent foliage pairs attractively with other coarsertextured perennials. It may be used as an accent plant, in containers, or in rock and cactus gardens.
At a Glance
Bulbine frutescens syn. Bulbine
caulescens
Say: BUL-bin-ee froo-TESS-enz
Family: Liliaceae (Lily Family)
Other names: Bulbinella, Snake flower, cat’s tail, burn jelly plant
Origin: South Africa
Zones: 8 (with protection) -11
Light: Full sun preferred; tolerates shade during part of the day
Water Use Zone: Low
Size: 1-2 feet tall; 3-4 feet wide
Soil: Well-drained, tolerant of poor, dry soil
Salt tolerance: None evidenced in literature
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