Watsonia borbonica Salmon Pink – Cape Bugle-Lily
Tall spikes of trumpet-shaped flowers last for several weeks in spring.
Habit:
This is a herbaceous perennial with flower spikes that rise to about 1.8m. Upright fans of sword shaped leaves grow to about 90cm from a corm. Though deciduous, the new leaves start to grow so soon after the flowers have faded that it is actually green year-round.
Origins:
Watsonia borbonica is a native of the extreme southwest of the Western Cape. Its habitat is mainly rocky sandstone slopes or well-drained slopes of clay and granite, and sometimes in deep sandy soil at the foot of the mountains. The species name borbonica means from the Ile de Bourbon, now Réunion, as it was mistakenly thought to originate from there.
Soil / Aspect:
Requires well drained soil and tolerates winter rain. Strictly speaking W. borbonica is half-hardy, but it is perfectly happy to be left in the ground over winter in coastal areas of Tasman. Will tolerate a range of soil types and pH. Best in full sun.
Maintenance:
Generally pest and disease free. Cut out the flower stems once the flowers have all faded. To avoid overcrowding and to get the most flowers, clumps are best lifted and divided every three to five years, when offset corms can be harvested to produce new plants.