red babiana

Babiana hirsuta (Lam.) Goldblatt & J.C.Manning

Scientific name

Babiana hirsuta is a deciduous plant that possesses corms with long necks covered with tough and fibrous tunics. The plants have stems that can easily reach 50 cm, with at least half of their length underground. Several tough, hairy branches are either horizontal, ascending or erect.

The lanceolate leaves may reach a length of up to 30 cm, are ribbed and sometimes minutely hairy.

The showy flowers are carried on horizontal racemes and vary in colour from bright red to shades of orange and apricot. Flowers are 2-lipped and closely set on the stem, reaching a length of approximately 55 mm. The bracts are 20 mm long and are covered with silvery hairs. Flowering is influenced by rain but generally occurs in spring from August until October.

Propagation instructions

By seed

Seeds can be sown in March and April, and transplanting of the corms is easily done during the resting phase, which is from January to March. There should be at least 5-cm wide spaces between the corms when planting into the garden or in pots. A deep watering, at least once a week, is essential for container plants to ensure that the water reaches the deep corms. The seeds are best sown in autumn, but only thinly to prevent overcrowding. Regular watering is needed during the growing season particularly in winter; this can be done manually with a fine rose on a small watering can. Seedlings must be left for at least two years before they are transplanted into containers or into garden beds.