Guest Author - Nikki Phipps

Watsonia, also called the Bugle Lily, is a South African native with over 50 species that grow from corms, producing slender, sword-shaped leaves and long stems with clusters of tubular, showy flowers. The genus is named after Sir William Watson, a British botanist. This beautiful spring bloomer gets quite large, reaching heights of around 5-6 feet tall. Plant this remarkable bulb during fall or early spring (after freezing weather has ceased) and by mid-spring you’ll be amazed by its early dawn colors, filling the air with brilliant sprays of pink, white, lavender, peach, or red. Since, many varieties of Watsonia reproduce quickly, they are ideal for filling in spaces within new gardens. Watsonia blooms over a long period and makes an excellent cut flower. Watsonia also makes a great accent in the back of mixed beds and borders due to its height, combining well with cannas and a variety of ornamental grasses.

Watsonia is a delightful, easy-to-grow plant. Its needs are few as it’s quite resilient. In fact, this plant is not picky about soil, requires little water, and thrives in hot weather. While is may prefer to be located in well-drained, sandy soil, nearly any type of soil will do provided it receives plenty of sun. Watsonia plants are well suited to Mediterranean-type climates that mimic their natural habitats. Watsonias start growth in early spring, flowering in mid-May and continuing throughout June. Watsonia does require winter protection. A layer of mulch is sufficient for frost-free areas, while lifting the corms is necessary for colder regions. This is usually done at the end of autumn where they are thoroughly dried and stored much like dahlias until the following spring. Keep them dry during the winter and start watering the young plants in the spring. After flowering, the leaves and stems can be cut back.

Cape Bugle lily (W. borbonica) is the most common species found growing in gardens. This species is usually pink. W. pyramidata is similar to gladiolus, but the flowers are smaller and bloom earlier. The flowers are always pink in wild populations; however, there are numerous varieties available in other shades as well. W. aletroides is a relatively small plant with distinctive pink, orange, or red flowers. W. laccata is a small plant with rich purple flowers. To avoid overcrowding with Watsonia plants and to get the most flowers, clumps are best lifted and divided every three to five years. Clumps can be lifted and divided at any time during the dormant season. Watsonia plants can easily be propagated by dividing the corms and planting or potting them in sandy soil or compost. You can also collect seeds; however, this method will take longer, up to three years, in getting flowering plants.