Bulbinella hookeri

RHS Plant Profile
golden wand
golden wand RHS
Herbaceous Perennial

A deciduous plant forming rosetttes of lanceolate, rather fleshy leaves to 30cm tall which start into growth in early spring. Later it produces upright stems to 60cm bearing dense racemes of starry, bright yellow flowers, which last throughout the summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Asphodelaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Bulbinella can be evergreen or deciduous, clump-forming perennials with narrow, somewhat fleshy leaves in a rosette, and many small, star-shaped, usually yellow or white flowers in a dense raceme held well above the leaves
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
New Zealand

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist but well-drained, neutral to acid soil in full sun or partial shade. Mulch with leaf mould in winter. Can also be grown in an alpine house in containers of equal parts loam, leaf mould and sharp sand

Propagation

Propagate by seed in a cold frame as soon as ripe or propagate by division in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Rock garden
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Under glass, glasshouse whitefly, aphids and glasshouse red spider mite may be problematic

Diseases

Generally disease-free