Watsonia borbonica - Cape bugle-lily

Watsonia borbonica is a perennial bulb forming a clump of elongated and upright leaves that can reach 50 to 80 cm long and high. Above the foliage, flower spikes up to 1.5 to 2 m high bearing pink tubular flowers rise. The flowering resembles that of gladioli but lighter and taller. The flowers usually appear in spring. The flowering period varies from region to region. The Watsonia of Bourbon is a plant that is easy to grow in pots everywhere, but can only be grown in the ground in mild climates.

From the Iridaceae family like Crocosmias and Gladioli, Watsonia borbonica or pyramidata is a cormous plant native to South Africa, specifically the Cape region. It is a winter-growing plant in its native region, which explains its great flexibility in terms of flowering period in our latitudes. It can flower as early as April and until July, depending on the region. The Watsonia of Bourbon forms a clump of dark green to medium green, shiny, slender and upright leaves like those of gladioli, with a height of 50 to 80 cm. Graceful spikes of pink flowers rise, usually in spring, to almost 1.5 to 2 m high. They are tubular, 3 cm in length and have 6 tepals. About ten flowers are distributed on each branched floral stem.   

The inflorescences of Watsonia borbonica create sculptural compositions with a touch of lightness and exoticism. This not very hardy, cormous plant will make beautiful pots for your terrace or balcony. Incorporate it into your beds and mixed borders with grasses like Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head' and in the foreground some clumps of Kniphofia 'Pineapple Popsicle' with cream-yellow flowers. In colder regions, grow Watsonia like gladioli. Once the foliage has turned yellow, dig up the bulbs and store them for winter in a dry and frost-free place until the following spring.