Babiana vanzyliae

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<em>Babiana</em> <em>vanzyliae</em> RHS
Bulbs

A cormous perennial to around 15cm tall with hairy, ribbed, lance-shaped leaves and scented, yellow to pale blue-purple flowers often edged and blotched with white on the lower lobes

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1–2 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower
Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Iridaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Babiana are cormous perennials with ribbed, erect, narrowly lance-shaped leaves and spikes of often fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S Africa (N Cape)

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow under glass from corms in autumn in peat-free, loam-based compost and grow on in full light. Apply a weak, balanced liquid fertiliser every 3 weeks before flowering. Dry off as the leaves die down in summer. Outdoors, plant 20cm deep in autumn in light, rich, well drained soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed as soon as ripe in autumn in a temperature of 13°C-15°C. Remove offsets when the corms are dormant in autumn. Pot into equal parts peat-free, loam-based compost and sharp sand

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free