The African Bulbine plant (Bulbine spp.) is a clumping succulent that thrives in arid landscapes, offering beauty with minimal water. Native to southern Africa and Australia, this plant is heat and drought-tolerant, making it an excellent choice for xeriscaping and rock gardens.
Bulbine is a genus of succulent plants named for the bulb-shaped tuber of many species, containing about 76 species. The genus is part of the family Asphodelaceae, making it a botanical cousin to the more well-known genus Aloe.
Plant Characteristics
This plant is relatively small, typically reaching about 1 foot in height and spreading to approximately 2 feet. Bulbine comes in both yellow and orange flowering cultivars, with flower spikes extending up to 2 feet tall. Each plant produces 10 to 15 flowers, blooming from mid-spring through fall.
Bulbine frutescens (Orange Bulbine) is a herbaceous, succulent perennial forming dense rosettes of linear, fleshy green leaves, up to 18 in. long (45 cm). Floriferous and durable, long racemes of small, yellow or pale orange flowers with frilly stamens are borne above the leaves. They attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.
Bulbine frutescens is a rhizomatous perennial that will form spreading colonies over time. Native to river banks and sandy, coastal hillsides in South Africa, Bulbine frutescens is easy to grow, tough, heat and drought tolerant and requires little care. Suitable for xeriscaping, Bulbine frutescens looks great throughout the seasons.
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Growing Conditions
Bulbine plants are adaptable to a wide range of soil types. However, they will grow best if planted in a spot that receives full sun and has well-drained soil, though it can be grown in a site that gets shade for part of the day. They love full sun, but they can also take light shade. In light shade, they may flower a little bit less, but that’s easy to give up if you have a shady spot.
Soil and Planting
Plant the rhizomes in well-draining soil. For this reason, they are often found in rock gardens with poor soil. Pick containers with drainage holes and use well-draining cactus and succulent soil with 50% to 70% mineral grit such as coarse sand, pumice, or perlite.
These plants produce 10 to 12 flower stalks, each with clusters of small, fragrant, yellow (or sometimes pink or orange) flowers.
Watering
Very, very low water on these. Plant the rhizomes in well-draining soil and water weekly as part of Bulbine care, at least until plants are established. Once established, plants are drought-tolerant, although they benefit from supplemental water during periods of drought. But if you give them too much water, they really won’t mind too much. They may just not flower as much or may not look as healthy.
Fertilizing
Caring for Bulbines also includes monthly fertilization with a balanced fertilizer.
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Flowering and Maintenance
Blooming throughout the year in adequate conditions, long racemes of small, yellow or pale orange flowers with frilly stamens are borne above the leaves. They flower all the way from mid-spring through fall, and they love our heat!
Deadhead spent blooms to encourage more flowers.
Hardiness
Bulbine plants are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 to 11 but can grow in lower zones as annuals. The plant, which grows from rhizomes, is hardy to 20 degrees F. (-7 C.). Soft succulents will not survive a hard frost, but if there is a risk of freezing temperatures they can be brought indoors to grow on a sunny window sill or under a grow light.
Uses
Growing Bulbine flowers are a good accent for a flower bed or a mixed container. Bulbine flowers add color in the herb garden; sap of the succulent leaves is used medicinally in the same way as gel of the aloe vera plant, leading to the common name of burn jelly plant. One tropical species, Bulbine natalensis, is being studied for its ability to boost animal testosterone production.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Height | 12-18 inches (31-46 cm) |
| Spread | Up to 2 feet |
| Flower Color | Yellow or Orange |
| Bloom Time | Mid-spring through fall |
| Hardiness Zones | 9-11 (USDA) |
| Light Requirements | Full sun to light shade |
| Water Requirements | Drought-tolerant once established |
Additional Information
In 2006, Bulbine was named plant of the year by the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association. It makes a great ground cover since each plant will grow over time to form a clump that can reach up to four feet wide.
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Bulbine frutescens (Stalked Bulbine) (Willd): A long leaved, lime green plant with fire orange and yellow flowers. This plant grows from a tuber which puts out the short stems, long leaves, and many offsets over the course of its lifetime. It is very similar to Aloe, but differs in the flowers. While Aloe flowers are tube shaped, the flowers of this plant are very open. It is native to southern Africa where it forms clumps of ground cover to 18.0" tall and wide.
20 Types Of Popular Bulbine Pictorial Guide
Now that you've learned of this wispy, colorful flower and the ease of Bulbine care, plant some in your landscape. Use in containers to overwinter in a sunny window.
