Watsonia

Sun, 09/13/2009 - 8:13am — Kathy Ormiston

Photo Credit:

Vera Kark, PADG

Botanical Name:

Watsonia

Pronunciation:

(wat-SON-ee-uh)

Common Name:

Watsonia

Plant Type:

Bulb

Mature Size:

21/2 ft. tall and wide

Water Requirements:

Low: water every 3 weeks until the root ball is wet

Sun/Shade Requirements:

Full sun

Flower Color :

Pink, rosy red, white, lavender, peach, orange

Wildlife:

This plant is deer resistant

Watsonia is another South African plant that grows well in our area. The pink gladiolus-like flowers are a highlight of our late spring garden. The sword-shaped leaves provide strong accent points in our beds.

This is a summer dormant plant, which means it can get by on almost no water in the summer (good), but has unattractive leaves starting in July (bad). We solve the ugly leaf problem by cutting the leaves back to a couple inches above ground in mid-summer. This results in a bare spot in the bed. If that bothers you, install a plant next to the Watsonia that will fill in the bare spot during the summer and fall months.

Some retail nurseries carry a selection of Watsonia corms (bulbs) in the fall.