Watsonia Hybrids

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Plant
ID 743 Watsonia Hybrids
Botanic Name Watsonia Hybrids
Common Name South African Bugle Lily
Family Name Iridaceae
Cultivars
Origin South Africa, Zone 9-10
Growth Type Perennial
Bark Type Stemless / Acaulescent
Foliage Type Evergreen Water Use Medium
No. of Species 60
Growth Habit Clumping Growth Rate Medium
Height 0.8 - 1.5 m (3 - 5 ft) Spread 1.5 m (5 ft)
Plant Overview
This cormous perennial has erect dark green lanced-shaped leaves and forms a spreading clump. The white, pink, rose or mauve and orange tube-shaped flowers appear in a spike high above the foliage on a slender stem during spring.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Lanceolate
The long dark green lanceolate leaves are up to 750 mm (30 in) long and have an acuminate apex and a prominent mid-rib. They may be deciduous in cooler regions where the leaves turn yellow before dying off.
Arrangement Basal
Margin Entire
Colour Dark green
Size 700 - 750 mm ( 27.6 - 29.5 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape Tubulate
The flower shape varies from tubulate to funnelform with a colour range from white, pink, rose or mauve and orange. They are arranged in a long spike that is held above the foliage on a slender scape and appear during spring.
Inflorescence Spike
Colour Red - orange
Size 10 - 65 mm ( 0.4 - 2.6 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Capsule Additional Information
Colour Brown
The capsule produces small seed that is not commonly used and the plant is normally reproduced vegetatively to maintain true to type.
Edible No
Bird Attractive No
Size 0 - 0 mm ( 0.0 - 0.0 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained moderately fertile, moist sandy-stony to loamy soil, pH 5.0-7.5
Container Pots, tubs, planter boxes, loam based potting mix
Climate Warm temperate
Aspect Full sun, open position, drought and frost tolerant
Pest & Diseases Susceptible to armillaria root rot, mosaic virus, thrips, millipedes
Fertiliser Apply complete fertiliser during late winter, apply dry mulch in frost prone areas
Pruning Remove spent flowers, divide crown when crowded during autumn
Cultural Uses Propagation
The South African Bugle Lily is a reliable flowering perennial that is grown for is spreading habit and flowers. It is planted along herbaceous borders in small or cottage gardens or grown in containers. It naturalises in woodland settings.
Divide corms during autumn and replant immediately. Sow fresh seed during spring and maintain a temperature of 16 to 18 C (61 to 64 F).
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