Bulbine latifolia
| Light | Bright light to full sun; tolerates some light shade |
|---|---|
| Water | Regular in the growing season, allow the top of the soil to dry between waterings; keep drier and cooler in winter |
| Soil | Free-draining, gritty mix with some organic matter |
| Temperature | Frost-tender; tolerates only light frost, not hard freezes; roughly USDA zones 9–11 |
| Propagation | Seed and division of clumps |
| Toxicity | Generally regarded as non-toxic; leaf sap is used topically in traditional medicine |
Bulbine latifolia is a robust, aloe-like South African succulent with broad, fleshy, strap-shaped leaves gathered into a basal rosette, above which rise tall spikes of small starry yellow flowers. Widely grown and traded as a medicinal plant, it is one of the larger and more vigorous members of the genus Bulbine, and is often sold under the name Bulbine natalensis (the broad-leaved bulbine).
Description
Bulbine latifolia forms a stout rosette of soft, succulent leaves that are broad at the base and taper to a point, often flushed with paler tones and a slightly translucent, jelly-filled interior typical of the genus. Mature plants can reach a considerable size for a Bulbine, and although they are often solitary, established plants can in time build up a clump of several rosettes.
In flowering season the plant sends up one or more tall, slender racemes well clear of the foliage. Each spike carries many small six-petalled yellow flowers that open in succession from the bottom upward, each adorned with the fluffy, bearded stamens that give the genus its distinctive look. The overall effect — a broad succulent rosette topped by airy yellow candles — is what makes it such a recognisable garden and container plant.
Distribution and habitat
The species is native to southern Africa, where it grows in scrub and rocky places such as dry river valleys and stony slopes, typically on well-drained shale or sandstone, often in seasonally dry conditions. It is naturally adapted to a summer growing period followed by a drier, cooler rest, and in habitat it copes with poor soils and periods of drought by drawing on the moisture stored in its fleshy leaves and roots.
Cultivation
Bulbine latifolia is an easy, forgiving plant and a good choice for beginners. Grow it in bright light to full sun, which keeps the rosette compact and encourages free flowering; in too much shade the leaves stretch and soften. A free-draining mix with some grit suits it well, and unlike many fussier succulents it appreciates fairly regular water through the warm growing months.
Water thoroughly when the top of the soil has dried, then let it approach dryness again; ease off through winter, keeping the plant cooler and much drier to avoid rot. It is frost-tender, so in cold climates grow it in a container that can be moved under cover, or treat it as a warm-season plant outdoors. See Watering and Repotting for general technique.
Propagation
Propagation is straightforward. When plants have formed a clump, they can be lifted and pulled apart, with each rooted division potted up on its own — see Propagation — offsets and Propagation — cuttings for handling rosettes and clumping plants. The species also comes readily from seed sown on a warm, free-draining surface, which is a good way to raise larger numbers.
Common problems
- Rot — from overwatering, cold-wet winters, or a slow-draining mix; the base or lower leaves soften and discolour.
- Etiolation — too little light makes the rosette loose and floppy and reduces flowering.
- Pests — mealybugs (white fluff in the leaf axils) and aphids on the tender flower spikes are the most common; see Pests and diseases.
See also
- Bulbine — the genus overview
- Soil and potting mix · Watering · Repotting · Propagation — offsets · Propagation — seed