Family: Iridaceae
Common Name: Baboon Flower

Native to South Africa, these lovely plants grow from corms. The pretty, cup-shaped flowers, rather like freesias, come in lilac, blue, yellow, pink and red, and the slender, stiff leaves are ribbed or slightly pleated and quite hairy.

Species

B. plicata has fragrant spring flowers, from lilac through to red, and grows 20 cm (8 in) in height.

B. rubrocyanea has scarlet or bright blue flowers and grows to a height of 15 cm (6 in).

B. stricta is the most commonly grown species, with flowers in various shades of blue, lilac or white. Var. sulphurea grows to 20 cm (8 in) and has pale yellow to white flowers.

Cultivation

Grow in the open in mild areas and in pots in a cool greenhouse in cold climates. Outdoors they need an open, sunny position with well-drained soil. Good for rock gardens and borders. In pots, grow in well-drained, soil-based potting compost in good light but shade from strong sun. Plant corms in autumn, about 8 cm (3 in) deep and 3-5 cm (1-2 in) apart. They flower in spring.

Climate

Zone 9.