Intermediate
skill rating
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Watsonia borbonica (Bugle lily)
1 hour care
per year
per year
1.5m
Max height
Max height
1m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Watsonia borbonica
Other names
Bugle lily, Watsonia pyramidata
Genus
Watsonia Watsonia
Species
W. borbonica - W. borbonica is a tender, clump-forming, cormous perennial with narrowly sword-shaped, grey-green leaves and branched spikes of bright pink flowers in summer.
Watsonia borbonica is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect
Toxicity
Handling may cause skin irritation.
Flower
Bright-pink in Summer
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Deadhead as needed.
Propagation
Sow seed at 13-18°C in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
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Where to grow
Watsonia borbonica (Bugle lily) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, City, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Gravel, Mediterranean, Rock
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost with added sand and humus in full sun. In growth, water freely and feed monthly. Keep just moist in winter. Outdoors, grow in light, well-drained soil that will not dry out in summer. Mulch in frost-prone areas or lift, dry and store corms over winter.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Watsonia borbonica
Other names
Bugle lily, Watsonia pyramidata
Genus
Watsonia Watsonia
Species
W. borbonica - W. borbonica is a tender, clump-forming, cormous perennial with narrowly sword-shaped, grey-green leaves and branched spikes of bright pink flowers in summer.
Native to
South Africa
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Erect
Toxicity
Handling may cause skin irritation.
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Colour
Flower
Bright-pink in Summer
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
Deadhead as needed.
Propagation
Sow seed at 13-18°C in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Watsonia borbonica (Bugle lily) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 1m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Banks and Slopes, Beds and borders, City, Containers, Cottage/Informal, Flower Arranging, Gravel, Mediterranean, Rock
Cultivation
Under glass, grow in loam-based compost with added sand and humus in full sun. In growth, water freely and feed monthly. Keep just moist in winter. Outdoors, grow in light, well-drained soil that will not dry out in summer. Mulch in frost-prone areas or lift, dry and store corms over winter.
Soil type
Chalky, Loamy, Sandy
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Loamy, Sandy | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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