Bulbine frutescens
| Light | Full sun to bright light; tolerates light shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Drought-tolerant once established; water when soil dries, less in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining mix; adaptable to poor and sandy soils (see Soil and potting mix) |
| Temperature | Best kept above freezing; hardy in USDA zones 9–11, roots may resprout after light frost |
| Propagation | Division of clumps, cuttings, or seed |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic; the leaf gel is a traditional skin remedy |
Bulbine frutescens is a fast-spreading, shrubby succulent from southern Africa, grown around the world as a tough, low-maintenance groundcover. It forms soft mounds of slender, cylindrical, grass-green leaves topped by slim spikes of star-shaped yellow or orange flowers, each marked by fluffy, bearded stamens. It is known by common names such as stalked bulbine, snake flower and cat's tail. It flowers almost continuously in mild climates and belongs to the genus Bulbine.
Description
Bulbine frutescens is a clump-forming, mat-spreading perennial that grows from a branching, fleshy base and slowly creeps outward by short trailing stems. The leaves are soft, cylindrical to slightly channelled, tapering to a point, and range from bright green to slightly grey-green; a broken leaf releases a clear, jelly-like sap. Established clumps typically reach ankle to knee height, spreading wider than they are tall.
The flowers are its signature feature. Carried on tall, bare stalks that rise well above the foliage, they open a few at a time along the spike over a long season, so a healthy plant seems to bloom almost without pause in frost-free areas. Each small, six-petalled star — yellow in the type, and orange in the widely grown Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' selection — has conspicuously fluffy, bearded stamens that give the genus much of its charm.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to southern Africa, where it is widespread across South Africa and neighbouring regions. It grows in a broad range of open habitats — grassland, scrub, rocky slopes and disturbed ground — often in poor, gritty or sandy soils. This adaptability in the wild is exactly what makes it such a forgiving garden plant, tolerating heat, drought and neglect once its roots are established.
Cultivation
Bulbine frutescens is one of the easiest succulents to grow and a genuinely beginner-friendly groundcover. Give it full sun to bright light for the most compact growth and heaviest flowering; in too much shade it grows loose and blooms less. It is not fussy about soil, thriving in ordinary garden ground as well as a free-draining mix, but it dislikes sitting wet, so avoid heavy, waterlogged conditions.
Water young plants to settle them in, after which they become notably drought-tolerant — water when the soil has dried, and cut back in winter. In climates with cold winters, treat it as tender: it is damaged by hard frost, though established clumps will often resprout from the roots after a light freeze. It is fast-growing enough to knit into a solid groundcover in a season or two, and shearing off spent flower stalks keeps it tidy and encourages fresh spikes. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
This is an easy plant to multiply. The simplest method is division — lift an established clump and pull or cut it into rooted pieces, each of which will re-establish quickly. Stem sections also root readily as cuttings, and the species comes true from seed as well, though named colour selections are best kept going vegetatively. Because clumps naturally spread and root as they creep, you can often simply detach a rooted offshoot from the edge (see Propagation - offsets).
Common problems
- Rot — the main risk is constantly wet, poorly drained soil, which can rot the base; ease off watering and improve drainage.
- Sparse, leggy growth — too little light makes the plant stretch and flower poorly; move it into full sun.
- Frost damage — foliage is cut back by hard freezes, but roots often survive and resprout in spring.
- Pests — generally trouble-free, though mealybugs or aphids may occasionally appear on soft new growth (see Pests and diseases).
See also
- Bulbine — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Propagation - cuttings · Propagation - offsets · Propagation - seed