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Home Plants Flowers and Ornamentals

Babiana

If you love flowering bulbs but have a tricky area to plant in, then you may like to consider growing Babianas (Babiana stricta). These hardy Spring flowering bulbs produce violet-blue or mauve, freesia like flowers that appear on spikes up to 20cm. Great for the beginner bulb grower, as they are hardy and can tolerate periods of neglect while still providing a stunning spring flowering display.

How to grow Babianas in a garden

  1. Choose a position in full sun to part shade with well-drained soil. 
  2. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Plant Food. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well. 
  3. Place bulbs directly where the plant is to grow at a depth of 5-7cm. Space 10cm apart, then cover with soil.
  4. Feed with Yates Thrive Rose & Flower Granular Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost apply Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food.
  5. Once bulbs start to sprout gently water to keep soil lightly moist.
  6. Mulch with an organic mulch like woodchip or pea straw, keeping it away from the base of the plant.
  7. Continue to lightly water the plant after the flowers and foliage have died off, keeping the soil lightly moist.
  8. Once the foliage has died off, cease watering. Bulbs can stay in the soil for the next season or be pulled up and stored in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. 

How to grow Babianas in a pot

  1. Choose a pot with adequate drainage holes.
  2. Place pot it in a full sun to part shade position.
  3. Fill the pot with a quality potting mix such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.
  4. Plant bulbs 5-7cm deep with the rough side down and pointy end up, space bulbs 7-10cm apart.
  5. Cover with soil.
  6. Water in well.
  7. Once bulbs start to sprout, gently water to keep soil lightly moist.
  8. Feed with Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food. TIP: for an added boost apply Yates Thrive Fish Blood & Bone Plant Food Concentrate.
  9. Continue to lightly water the plant after the flowers and foliage have died off, keeping the soil lightly moist.
  10. Once the foliage has died off, cease watering. Remove the bulbs and store in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.

Growing tips

  • Babianas can grow in part shade but perform at their best if planted in full sun.

  • These bulbs are low growing and will form a delicate floral border in large pots, rockeries or garden edges.

  • Often called ‘Baboon Flowers’ as Baboons have been known to dig bulbs up from the ground to eat.

  • Great as a potted plant due to their hardiness and tolerance to dry conditions.

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