Overview

Babiana villosa is a bushy bulbs in the genus Babiana, part of the Iridaceae family, with deciduous foliage. Babiana villosa grows best in full sun, and tolerates loam and sand soils and neutral pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H2. Suggested uses include wall side borders.

About

Babiana villosa is a bushy cultivar of the Babiana genus, which comprises perennial plants growing from corms. This deciduous plant features upright, narrowly lanceolate, ribbed leaves and produces spikes of funnel-shaped flowers, often fragrant. It thrives in full sun on south- or west-facing, sheltered aspects, preferring well-drained loam or sandy soil with a neutral pH. Suitable for wall side borders, Babiana villosa is hardy to UK zone H2 and is best planted at the appropriate depth in well-drained soil. It flowers in spring and summer and can be propagated by seed or offsets.

About the genus

Babiana is a genus of geophytes in the family Iridaceae with 93 recognized species as of March 2022. The leaves consist of a stalk and a blade that are at an angle to each other. The leaf blades are entire, laterally flattened and pleated, and often hairy.

Wikipedia contributors, "Babiana", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Babiana

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Babiana

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H2

Plant details

Babiana villosa size, habit and characteristics

Plant type

Bulbs

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Suggested uses

Wall side borders

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Babiana villosa

Propagation

Seed, offsets

Pest resistance

Red spider mite

Disease resistance

Generally disease-free

Frequently asked questions