Other Bulbs
Agapanthus praecox - Lily of the Nile
These plants hardly need an introduction as they are so well-known. The tropical-looking green leaves are almost enough of a reason to grow them as a border in your flower bed or massed in a 300mm or bigger flower pot. The blue mass of flowers stands above the leaves and lasts for well over 4-6 weeks. Although they can tolerate temperatures down to 0ºC, the leaves turn brown if exposed to direct frost. Plants dispatched will flower within 12 months.
Crocosmia aurea - Falling Stars / Montbretua
Montbretia or ‘Falling Stars’ from the summer rainfall area of Natal is surely one of the most strikingly beautiful and easy-to-grow flowers you can get. They have a large degree of cold-hardiness and their bright orange to coppery-red flowers make a fantastic display in late summer to mid-autumn. Fertiliser and water well during the spring, summer and autumn months.
Gladiolus dalenii "Copper-Red" - Peacock Flower
Gladiolus dalenii "Salmon/Apricot" - Peacock Flower
This is a naturally occurring form of the Gladiolus dalenii. The flowers are huge with a flowering time of mid to late summer. Fertilise and water well from spring to autumn. If possible, mulch the base to keep the plant cool. Sow corms 100mm to 120mm below the ground.
Dierama floriferum - Lilac Hairbell / Fairies Fishing Rods
This Hairbell can tolerate freezing temperatures in winter. In places where it is found, the temperature can drop to -5ºC. The colour range is from white to purple. Flower stem size is from 1200mm and up to 3m in the paler forms. Plant corms about 50mm below ground level. Feed and water well in spring, summer and autumn. Flowering time is mid-summer to autumn. Fertilise and water well from spring to autumn. If possible, mulch the base to keep the plant cool. Sow corms 100mm to 120mm below the ground. This species eventually forms clumps that can contain over 25 flowering stalks.
Dierama pauciflorum - Imperial purple Hairbell
This Hairbell can tolerate cold temperatures in winter. The colour range is light to imperial purple. The flower stem size is 300-400mm. Plant corms about 50-100mm below ground level. Feed and water well in spring, summer and autumn. Flowering time is late spring to early summer. Fertilise and water well from spring to autumn. If possible, mulch the base to keep the plant cool. Sow corms 100mm to 120mm below the ground. This species eventually forms clumps that can contain over 25-30 flowering stalks.
Dierama pallidum - Yellow Hairbell
This Hairbell is mostly solitary in growth, but sometimes two or three corms clump together. It produces yellow flowers atop 1000mm to 1200mm stems that bend and resemble fairies fishing rods (their other common name). Sow corms 100 to 120mm below the ground. If possible, a mulch should be provided to keep the corms cool.
Eucomis hybrid "Purple" - Pineapple Flower
Eucomis hybrid "Green" - Pineapple Flower
The pineapple flower appears in early to late summer and are up to 500mm in length. Flowers last upwards of 4 weeks and thereafter, the coloured seed pods create their own show. Plant with the upper portion of the bulb exposed. A mulching of the bulb is welcomed. This is a greedy feeder and enjoys an occasional heavy drenching with water.
Kniphofia praecox - Red Hot Pokers
The Red Hot Pokers from Natal and Southern Africa are a must for a pond area or displayed in large pots, or even in the background of your flower beds. They are greedy feeders and enjoy as much water as you can offer. This poker has flower stems that can reach one metre in height, and as the image displays, they are often multi-stemmed.
Hypoxis acuminata - Yellow Stars
This is another Natal beauty. It flowers profusely and for a few months every year. The flowers are butter-yellow in colour. They can easily tolerate cold winter temperatures of slightly below zero Celsius in winter.
Hypoxis colchicifolia - The African Potato
This is one of the larger Hypoxis species. It grows much the same as all the other species. It makes an excellent pot plant and can tolerate temperatures that drop slightly below freezing. My plants are frost-hardy here in Natal.
Watsonia pillansii - Orange Watsonia
Easy to grow and easy to get long-lasting 1000mm flower stems. This Orange Watsonia is frost-hardy. Flowering time is in winter and flowers form and last for well over 6 weeks. Plant corms about 50mm to 100mm below the ground. It has a fair degree of frost hardiness. Flowers make great and long-lasting cut flowers. It slowly forms clumps.
Watsonia densiflora - Natal Watsonia
Easy to grow and easy to get long-lasting 1000mm flower stems. This Natal Watsonia is frost-hardy. Flowering time is in late spring to early summer and flowers form and last for well over 6 weeks. Plant corms about 50mm to 100mm below the ground. It has a fair degree of frost hardiness. Flowers make great and long-lasting cut flowers. It slowly forms clumps.
Watsonia confusa - Lilac Watsonia
Easy to grow and easy to get long lasting 1000mm flower stems. This Lilac Watsonia is only slightly frost-hardy. Flowering time is from mid spring to early summer and flowers last for well over 6 weeks. Plant corms about 50mm to 100mm below the ground. It has a mild degree of frost hardiness. Flowers make great and long-lasting cut flowers. It slowly forms clumps.