Grow Well Guides

Bulbine

Bulbine, also known as the Stalked Bulbine or Snake Flower, is a bright and resilient plant. Its succulent leaves and cheerful yellow or orange flowers create a burst of colour in your garden. With easy-care requirements, it's a fantastic choice for adding vibrancy to your outdoor space.

Planting Calendar

Summer
Autumn
Winter
Spring

Best planted in spring and summer.

Prepare

Bulbine is a herbaceous, succulent perennial native to river banks and sandy, coastal hillsides in South Africa. Bulbine can be used in mass plantings, along the edge of a path, or ground cover in mixed border fronts, rock gardens, and Mediterranean gardens. Can also be planted among larger rocks for a more naturalistic look. Bulbine can also be grown in a pot. The leaves produce a gel similar to Aloe and can be used for burns and cuts.

Position

Bulbine does best when planted in full sun in a free draining soil.

Soil

When planted into the ground Bulbine prefers a free-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. To improve the organic content in your soil, break up the soil and add Kings Compost and Kings Sheep Pellets then mix together well. When growing in containers, plant into Kings Container mix. This mix contains Saturaid, which helps with moisture retention in the soil.

Plant

When planting into the ground, ensure the plants is well watered then, gently tap the plant out of its pot. Dig a hole twice the depth and width of the plant’s root ball. Mix Kings Compost into your existing soil at a 50/50 ratio, add Kings Sheep Pellets then mix together. Backfill the hole with this soil, so that when planted the top of the plant’s roots sit level with the surrounding ground. Firm the soil down gently and water in well with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. In heavier clay soils, where drainage is likely to be an issue, plant onto a raised mound and sprinkle Gypsum Clay Breaker into the bottom of the hole, this helps slowly condition the soil and help to break down the clay. When planting into containers plant into Kings Container Mix, as this has water retention crystals in it, which will help in keeping the soil moist.

Care

Watering

Being a succulent, Bulbine can take short periods of dryness. Water well in prolonged dry periods.

Feeding

For strong healthy roots and plants, apply monthly applications of Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster, from Spring through to the end of Autumn, this encourages root growth and increases the microbial activity in the soil. Monthly applications of Kings Sheep Pellets will help with soil conditioning and plant health.

Protecting

Protect from from frosts. Slugs and snails do like to munch on its succulent leaves. Apply applications of Quash slug bait and re-apply after rain.

Pruning

Remove old faded flowers to encourage more blooms.

Expert Tip

Divide the clump every few years in autumn.

Frequently Asked Questions