At a time of year when bright colours are at a premium in the garden, the Cape Hyacinths bring much-needed winter cheer to temperate windowsills and gardens. Discerning growers have been cultivating these South African bulbs for centuries but they have never gained the universal popularity they deserve. Among the best of the species to start with is Lachenalia bulbifera, an early-flowering and resilient charmer that makes an ideal windowsill plant.
Lachenalias And Their Relatives
As their common name suggests, lachenalias are members of the family Hyacinthaceae, which includes such well-known bulbs as the English bluebell and the universally popular pot hyacinth. The genus Lachenalia is exclusive to South Africa and contains over one hundred species that are stunning in their diversity.
There are species with two leaves or only one; some have wonderfully marbled or zebra-striped foliage, others have broad, prostrate or linear leaves. Flower colour is equally varied, with white, yellow, red, red-brown and blue, to name but a few, not to mention the almost unworldly blue-green blooms of the critically endangered Lachenalia viridiflora.
Lachenalia bulbifera is a variable species which may have one or two leaves though in this instance the family link to the hyacinths can easily be seen. The leaves are relatively soft and either stand more-or-less erect or may recurve on themselves. Depending on the variety, they may either be entirely green or marked with dark spots.
As early as late December in the Northern Hemisphere, the plants produce robust flowering stems, up to 20 centimetres in height but frequently shorter. These bear up to 20 long-lasting tubular flowers that initially point upwards, becoming pendant once fully open.
They can be bright red or orange, rarely yellow, and have a substantial fleshy texture. The three outer tepals form the body of the tube and each one has a slightly raised, differently coloured tip, while the three inner ones protrude a little further and are attractively marked with green and purple. As an additional embellishment, the ripe anthers are laden with pale golden pollen.
How To Grow Lachenalia Bulbifera
Lachenalias are not usually regarded as frost hardy, but in southern Spain at altitudes of more than 900 metres, a red flowered, plain leaved variety of Lachenalia bulbifera can often be seen flowering on outside windowsills at a time of year when temperatures frequently drop below 0º C.
To err on the side of caution is best, however, and they can either be grown in a cold greenhouse or on a cool, bright windowsill indoors. It is important to achieve the correct balance of light and temperature, as too much heat will induce weak, floppy growth and unsightly, sagging flower stems. Anything other than light shade can also produce soft growth.
Lachenalias have compact, white bulbs which are potted up in Autumn, preferably in deep pots at a depth of 8 centimetres and allowing the same distance between each bulb. A loam based compost is preferable, although in practise they seem to be reasonably uncomplaining with regards to the growing medium; in nature Lachenalia bulbifera can be found growing in a variety of acid and alkaline soils. Water should be provided freely during the growing period, and they should not be allowed to dry out completely between waterings.
After flowering has finished and the leaves begin to wither, reduce watering and store the bulbs dry over the summer period. They should be kept in a cool, dry place to avoid them shrivelling during the dormant period.
Propagation
An interesting method of propagating Lachenalia bulbifera is by means of leaf cuttings. Only mature, healthy leaves from plants with two leaves should be selected; these are then cut cleanly through as close to the base as possible without damaging the bulb. They can be sliced in two to create extra cuttings but you are likely to have better results if the cutting is left intact.
Plant the cuttings to at least a third of their depth in a sandy compost without allowing the severed ends to dry off. These can be dipped in hormone rooting solution if you like, but this is not absolutely neccessary. Then, place the pots indoors in a semi-shaded place and check them regularly to ensure that they do not dry out.
Small bulbils usually form at the base of these leaf cutting within 6-8 weeks. Then, once the original leaf has shrivelled, these can be collected, stored and planted up as for the parent bulbs. They usually flower in their second full growing season but occasionally they will surprise you by blooming in their first spring.
As the scientific name suggests, some varieties of Lachenalia bulbifera naturally produce bulbils at the base of the leaves. They are also easily grown from seeds, which are small, black and shiny and produced in papery capsules after flowering. These are sown from late Autumn to early Spring in gritty seed compost and covered with a fine sprinkling of horticultural sand.
Kept evenly moist, the seeds germinate within a few weeks at room temperature without needing any additional heat. Some growers recommend keeping the seedlings growing for as long as possible into the summer to enable the tiny bulbs to bulk up.
There are many other species of Lachenalia, and specialist nurseries offer bulbs and seeds of even the more unusual kinds. Growing these endlessly variable, space-saving bulbs can easily become an abiding interest and in the case of some, such as the scarce but undemanding Lachenalia viridiflora, cultivation may even help to secure the future of these charismatic little plants.
References
PlantzAfrica: Lachenalia bulbifera www.plantzafrica.com
Peter Ashby - Peter Ashby lives near Granada in southern Spain, is an expert on natural history, and a dedicated traveller, writer and hispanist.
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