''Bulbine frutescens'' is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''

Bulbine ''Bulbine'' is a genus of plants in the family Asphodelaceae and subfamily Asphodeloideae, named for the bulb-shaped tuber of many species. It was formerly placed in the Liliaceae. It is found chiefly in Southern Africa, with a few species ...

'', native to southern Africa ( South Africa,

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

Eswatini Eswatini ( ; ss, eSwatini ), officially the Kingdom of Eswatini and formerly named Swaziland ( ; officially renamed in 2018), is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its no ...

Description

This variable species grows as a small shrub, with short, low stems that produce roots down towards the ground, and slender, erect, succulent, grey-green leaves. The flowers appear throughout the summer, on a 30 cm erect inflorescence. The flowers can be orange, yellow or white. Like all ''

'' species, the stamens are distinctively tufted ("bearded").

Growth

''Bulbine frutescens'' is mostly dormant in summer, blooming in the spring, and then again in autumn although somewhat less. It can be propagated easily by stem cuttings. The cuttings can be planted immediately and kept in a shady area. They do not need any special attention or treatment, and build strong roots in a couple of months.

Name

''Bulbine'' comes from the Greek word ''bolbine'', a general word for a bulbous plant, but particularly '' Ornithogalum''., p. 75 The name is misleading, as plants do not have a bulbous base.

References

frutescens Flora of Southern Africa Plants described in 1753 Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus {{Asphodelaceae-stub