PlantPeers
Back to Catalog
Bulbine bulbosa
Asphodelaceae FAMILY

Bulbine bulbosa

Bulbine bulbosa

Edibility
3/5
Medicinal
0/5

Safety & Hazards

Causes severe scouring if eaten by sheep or cattle[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitPerennial
Growth—

Bulbine bulbosa is found from the temperate zone of Tasmania to the tropics of central Queensland. It can tolerate some frost - it is said to tolerate short-lived temperatures falling as low as -7°c so long as the soil is very well drained. Plants can be grown outdoors in the milder areas of the temperate zone[2, 3]. Easily grown in a well-drained sandy loam in a sunny sheltered position[4]. Tolerates poor soils[4]. Plants should be heavily mulched over the winter in areas where temperatures fall much below zero[4]. Transplants readily[2]. The flowering stems are easily damaged and flattened[2]. A very ornamental[3] and polymorphic species which could possibly be better treated as a complex of closely related species[5].

Propagation

Seed - we have no information on this species but suggest sowing the seed in spring in a greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first two winters, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in the spring. Best done as the plants come into growth. Pot the divisions up and grow them on in a cold frame until they are established then plant them out in the summer. Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Bulbine+bulbosa>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

  1. [1]Flora of Victoria. — Ewart. A. J. · University Press; Melbourne · 1930 ↩︎A flora of eastern Australia, it is rather short on information that is useful to the plant project.
  2. [2]Australian Native Plants. — Wrigley. J. W. and Fagg. M. · Collins. (Australia) · 1988 · ISBN 0-7322-0021-0 ↩︎A lovely book, written in order to encourage Australian gardeners to grow their native plants. A little bit of information for the plant project.
  3. [3]Perennial Garden Plants — Thomas. G. S. · J. M. Dent & Sons, London. · 1990 · ISBN 0 460 86048 8 ↩︎A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
  4. [4]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  5. [5]Wild Food Plants of Australia. — Low. T. · Angus and Robertson. · 1989 · ISBN 0-207-14383-8 ↩︎Well presented, clear information and good photographs. An interesting read for the casual reader as well as the enthusiast
  6. [6]Wild Food in Australia. — Cribb. A. B. and J. W. · Fontana · 1976 · ISBN 0-00-634436-4 ↩︎A very good pocket guide.