Intermediate
skill rating
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Boophone disticha (Century plant)
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2 hours care
per year
per year
0.6m
Max height
Max height
0.3m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Boophone disticha
Other names
Century plant, Poison bulb, Sore-eye flower, Boophane disticha, Bushman's poison
Genus
Boophone Boophone
Species
B. disticha - B. disticha is a tender, bulbous perennial with a thick covering of dry scales above the ground and round heads of pink or red flowers in midsummer through autumn.
Boophone disticha is: Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowerheads are sweetly scented and attractive to bees.
Toxicity
All parts of the plant are highly poisonous if ingested. Grow under glass with extreme caution as this plant may cause eye discomfort and headache in confined areas.
Flower
Red, Dark-pink in Summer; Red, Dark-pink in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
General care
Propagation methods
Offsets, Seed
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Where to grow
Boophone disticha (Century plant) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.3m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Greenhouse, Mediterranean, Rock
Cultivation
Plant in well-drained, sandy soil in a sheltered site in full sun. The neck and part of the bulb should show above ground. May take more than one season to flower after planting as the bulbs do not produce flowers until they are quite large.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Boophone disticha
Other names
Century plant, Poison bulb, Sore-eye flower, Boophane disticha, Bushman's poison
Genus
Boophone Boophone
Species
B. disticha - B. disticha is a tender, bulbous perennial with a thick covering of dry scales above the ground and round heads of pink or red flowers in midsummer through autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Fragrance
Flowerheads are sweetly scented and attractive to bees.
Toxicity
All parts of the plant are highly poisonous if ingested. Grow under glass with extreme caution as this plant may cause eye discomfort and headache in confined areas.
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Colour
Flower
Red, Dark-pink in Summer; Red, Dark-pink in Autumn
General care
Propagation methods
Offsets, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Boophone disticha (Century plant) will reach a height of 0.6m and a spread of 0.3m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, Containers, Drought Tolerant, Gravel, Greenhouse, Mediterranean, Rock
Cultivation
Plant in well-drained, sandy soil in a sheltered site in full sun. The neck and part of the bulb should show above ground. May take more than one season to flower after planting as the bulbs do not produce flowers until they are quite large.
Soil type
Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Clay, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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