Bulbs 2010

What is a bulb? For the gardener, this term generally includes all plants with lumpy rootstocks. Mature plants can usually be transplanted safely a few days after they are lifted. Such plants would include genuine bulbs such as Ifafa lilies (Cyrtanthus mackenii); plants with rhizomes such as the iris Dietes grandiflora - see under Grass-like plants; tuberous plants such as the arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) and plants with corms such as Crocosmia aurea. Bulbs contribute striking forms and the seasonal excitement of delicately perfect, glistening flowers to a planting. Many local bulbs have interesting medicinal properties.

Agapanthus minimus

Mini White Agapanthus

Evergreen clumping bulb, 30cm, large white flowerheads.

Agapanthus orientalis

Medium White Agapanthus

Evergreen clumping bulb, 60cm, large white flowerheads.

Agapanthus orientalis

Medium Blue Agapanthus

Evergreen clumping bulb, 90cm, large blue flowerheads.

Agapanthus praecox

Large White Agapanthus

Evergreen clumping bulb, 90cm, large white flowerheads.

Agapanthus praecox

Large Blue Agapanthus

Evergreen clumping bulb, 90cm, large blue flowerheads.

Agapanthus sp

Pondo Aggie

Pondoland Agapanthus with medium blue flowers

Albuca fastigiata

Large White Albuca

Bulb, sun. 60cm. Attractive white & green flowers.

Albuca nelsonii

Candelabrum Lily

Bulb, sun. 1 m. Attractive white & green flowers.

Aristea ecklonii

Blue Stars

Sword-shaped leaves clumping 30cm. Pretty blue flowers.

Chasmanthe floribunda

Flames

1m, sun, orange flowers, multiplies, deciduous.

Chlorophytum krookianum

Giant Chlorophytum

1m white flower spikes, sun/semi-shade, damp soil.

Clivia miniata

Common Clivia

Evergreen bulb, shade, spectacular orange flowers.

Clivia miniata X

Hybrid Clivia

Evergreen bulb, shade, spectacular orange flowers.

Clivia robusta

Swamp Clivia

1.5m, light shade, orange tubular flowers; a new discovery in the plant world

Crinum bulbispermum

Orange River Crinum

Large pink and white trumpets. Bold grey-green foliage.

Crinum macowanii

River Crinum

Bulb, 80 cm, sun; lovely, scented white and pink flowers.

Crinum moorei

Moore's Crinum

Bulb, 80 cm, light shade, beautiful pale pink flowers.

Crocosmia aurea

Falling Stars

1m, Spreading in shade, drooping orange flowers

Crocosmia pottsii

Slender Crocosmia

1m, sun/shade, red flowers

Cussonia paniculata

Mountain Cabbage Tree

30 cm, sun, damp areas, bright yellow flowers

Cyrtanthus brachyscyphus

Orange Ifafa Lily

30cm, beautiful brilliant orange flowered small lily

Cyrtanthus breviflorus

Yellow Fire Lily

30 cm, sun, damp areas, bright yellow flowers

Cyrtanthus elatus

George Lily

Bulb for sun with beautiful large pink or red flowers

Cyrtanthus mackenii cr

Ifafa Lily (mixed)

Bulb, sun, 20cm, pretty flowers, good for rockery or as a potplant.

Cyrtanthus mackenii mix

Ifafa Lily

Bulb, sun, 20cm, pretty flowers, good for rockery or as a potplant.

Cyrtanthus mackenii y

Ifafa Lily

Bulb, sun, 20cm, pretty flowers, good for rockery or as a potplant.

Cyrtanthus sanguineus

Mzimkulu Lily

Bulb for sun or semi-shade with stunning large red flowers

Drimiopsis maculata

Spotted-leaf Drimiopsis

Attractive ground cover for shade, potplant. Cute little lilies.

Drimiopsis maxima

Large-leaved Drimiopsis

25cm, shade, attractive leaves, good pot plant

Eucomis autumnalis

Pineapple Lily

Attractive tall flower-spikes, sun.

Eucomis punctata/comosa

Slender Pineapple Flower

1m, sun/shade, long inflorescence, from inland

Eucomis sp. 'pink'

Pink Pineapple Lily

Attractive tall flower-spikes, sun.

Eucomis vandermerwei

Small Eucomis

20cm, sun, decoratively marked leaves, pink flowers

Freesia laxa

Woodland Painted Petals

Deciduous bulb, sun, 20 cm, delightful red or mauve flowers

Gladiolus dalenii

African Gladiolus

1m, sun, stems of striking orange and yellow flowers for the vase.

Gladiolus natalensis

Parrot Gladiolus

1m, sun, stems of striking orange and yellow flowers for the vase.

Gloriosa superba

Flame Lily

Deciduous climber with beautiful orange and yellow flowers

Haemanthus albiflos

Snowbrush Lily

Bulb, shade, white torch lilies, red fruit.

Haemanthus deformis

Dwarf Haemanthus

Low-growing unusual flat growth form, white paintbrush

Hesperantha baurii

isidwa

50cm, sun, bright magenta flowers. Iris family.

Hesperantha coccinea

Red River Lily

50cm, sun, damp soil, lovely pink/red flowers.

Hypoxis angustifolia

Small Hypoxis

Groundcover, sun. Pretty, yellow flowers most of the year.

Hypoxis filiformis

Grass Star-flower

Grassland plant, 30 cm, sun, yellow flowers.

Kniphofia linearifolia

Red-hot Poker

1.5m, sun, orange-yellow flowers, birds.

Kniphofia pauciflora

Dainty Poker

30cm, sun/semi, damp soil. Yellow flowers. Extinct in the wild.

Kniphofia rooperi

Winter Poker

Stunning orange flowers, evergreen foliage, for coastal areas.

Ledebouria cooperi

Cooper's Squill

25 cm, attractive spotted and striped leaves, pink flowers

Ledebouria floribunda

Giant Ledebouria

30cm, sunshine, reclining creamy inflorescences

Ledebouria ovatifolia

Ledebouria sp.

Spotted Squill

10 cm, attractive spotted leaves, pink-purple-green flowers

Ledebouria sp. cf. sandersonii

Pink squill

15cm, deciduous bulb for sun, little pink-green lilies

Merwilla plumbea

Scilla

Bulb, foliage 20cm, sun, purple flower spikes.

Ornithogalum longibracteatum

Pregnant Onion

30cm, flower stem 1m, ornamental multiplying bulbs, cream flowers for insects

Ornithogalum paludosum

Grass-leaved Chincherinchee

40cm, bulb with white flowers and faint green stripe, used traditionally as protection against storms

Ornithogalum thyrsoides

Chincherinchee

Bulb, sun, attractive white pokers, attracts insects

Scadoxus katharinae

Katherine Wheel

1m, light shade. Beautiful red inflorescence.

Scadoxus membranaceus

Dwarf Paintbrush

40cm, shade, smaller orange torch lily, glossy red "cherries" for weeks.

Scadoxus multiflorus

Fire-ball Lily

50cm, light shade. Beautiful red inflorescence.

Scadoxus puniceus

Snake Lily

80cm, sun/shade, stunning large orange flowerhead.

Scilla natalensis

Blue Squill

Bulb, sun/light shade. Tall blue flowerhead.

Siphonochilus aethiopicus

Wild Ginger

Deciduous bulb with beautiful large pink flowers near the ground

Tulbaghia fragrans

Sweet Garlic

Clumping deciduous bulb, sun. Scented mauve flowers.

Tulbaghia ludwigiana

Scented Wild Garlic

30cm, sun, scented grey-beige flowers, loves damp streambanks

Tulbaghia natalensis

Natal Wild Garlic

40cm, pale pink-white flowers. Sun. Culinary herb. Said to repel snakes.

Tulbaghia violacea

Wild Garlic

Clumping evergreen bulb, 40 cm, sun, mauve flowers.

Tulbaghia violacea (varieg.)

Variegated Wild Garlic

Clumping evergreen bulb, 40 cm, sun, mauve flowers.

Veltheimia bracteata

Yellow Flame Lily

50cm, light shade. Pinkish flowers.

Veltheimia bracteata

Bush Flame Lily

50cm, light shade. Pinkish flowers.

Watsonia densiflora

Natal Watsonia

1m, sun, needs well-watered good soil, pink/white/red flowers

Watsonia pillansii

Pillan's Watsonia

1m, sun, pretty orange flowers. Good cut-flower.

Watsonia sp. (cerise)

Watsonia hybrids

1m, sun, pretty colourful flowers. Deciduous. Good cut-flower.

Watsonia sp. (pink rose)

Watsonia hybrids

1m, sun, pretty colourful flowers. Deciduous. Good cut-flower.

Watsonia sp. (pink)

Watsonia hybrids

1m, sun, pretty colourful flowers. Deciduous. Good cut-flower.

Watsonia sp. (pink.shrimp)

Watsonia hybrids

1m, sun, pretty colourful flowers. Deciduous. Good cut-flower.

Watsonia sp. (red)

Watsonia hybrids

1m, sun, pretty colourful flowers. Deciduous. Good cut-flower.

Watsonia sp. (white)

Watsonia hybrids

1m, sun, pretty colourful flowers. Deciduous. Good cut-flower.

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Arum 

90 cm bulb, damp soil, beautiful large white spathes

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Spotted-leaf  Arum 

90 cm bulb, damp soil, beautiful large white spathes

Zantedeschia aethiopica 'GG'

'Green Goddess' Arum

90 cm, sun/shade, lovely "marbled" white/green spathes