Watsonia strubeniae Seeds - Indigenous South African Endemic Perennial Bulb Seeds from Africa

Watsonia strubeniae Seeds

South African Endemic Perennial Flowering Bulb

Watsonia is a genus of plants in the iris family, subfamily Crocoideae, native to South Africa. The genus is named after Sir William Watson, a British botanist. There are 52 species in southern Africa; all are perennial herbs growing from corms and produces long erect spikes of showy flowers, and are adapted to a Mediterranean-type climate. The most common species in cultivation is the pink-flowered Watsonia borbonica and its white mutant 'Arderne's White'. These were crossed with Watsonia meriana and other species in the early 20th century by breeders including John Cronin in Australia and Luther Burbank in California to produce a wide range of cultivars. Watsonia has been eclipsed in poty by Gladiolus and other bulbs, and is now neglected by the nursery industry. In the South-West of Western Australia, six species have become naturalised from garden escapes along rivers, wetlands and seasonally wet ground. Watsonia strubeniae is a South African endemic species from the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces where it is found growing in grassland. It was previously known as Watsonia alpina and Watsonia transvaalensis var. drakensbergensis. It grows from 60cm to 100cm tall with four to five leaves that have heavily thickened margins. From summer to autumn this summer growing species bears long spikes of small delicate pale pink flowers. The seeds are best sown at the start of spring.