Walton's Plant Library
 
perennial

Stalked Bulbine

Bulbine frutescens

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Stalked Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens) at Walton's Garden Center

Stalked Bulbine flowers

Stalked Bulbine flowers

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Stalked Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens) at Walton's Garden Center

Stalked Bulbine in bloom

Stalked Bulbine in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  24 inches

Spread:  24 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  8b

Other Names:  Snake Flower, Cat's Tail, Burn Jelly Plant

Description:

A pretty succulent variety producing fleshy narrow gray-green foliage that is somewhat grassy looking; yellow and orange flowers appear in spring and summer on tall spikes; great for a rock garden or as a groundcover in a sunny area

Ornamental Features

Stalked Bulbine features showy spikes of peach star-shaped flowers with yellow eyes rising above the foliage from mid spring to mid summer. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive succulent grassy leaves remain grayish green in color throughout the year.

Landscape Attributes

Stalked Bulbine is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep. Trim off the flower heads after they fade and die to encourage more blooms late into the season. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Stalked Bulbine is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Accent
  • Rock/Alpine Gardens
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Stalked Bulbine will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 24 inches. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Stalked Bulbine is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Accent  Rock  Garden  Groundcover  Container 
Applications
Flowers  Foliage Color  Texture  Attracts Wildlife 
Ornamental Features