Bulbine frutescens is a very pretty evergreen succulent and one of those quintessential plants destined for a dry Mediterranean garden. As a native of South Africa it is not very frost hardy (-5℃ in well-drained soil) but very drought-tolerant (Filippi gives it a “code de sécheresse” of 5). In our garden, it has easily tolerated several January nights with -4℃, while the Osteospermum fruticosum died off.
It blooms tirelessly from April through December – only pausing for a few weeks between August and September. During the height of the dry summer the leaves may also turn brownish – they will recuperate quickly after the first rains.
The plant, whose stems take root at the base in contact with the soil, is a quick and vigorous grower, forming a thick ground cover of 55 x 60 cm. It needs well-drained soil and full sun.
Similar to Aloe vera, the leaves of Bulbine frutescens contain a soothing, healing gel, used for burns, skin irritations, insect bites, etc.
Bulbine frutescens is easy to propagate by seeds, stem cuttings or by division. I accidentally pulled out a small part with a bit of root attached. I put it in water but nothing much happened. Then I just stuck it in some earth and it established itself in a matter of weeks.
It may need to be thinned out in the spring to keep it vigorous.
Leave a Reply