Watsonia meriana
Scientific name
Grows from corms up to 2m tall with erect, strap-like, flat pointed leaves and a large orange flower.(Little info available so Watsonia pilansii instructions used:)
Propagate by seed or lift and divide the corms.
Sow seed in spring, in deep seed trays or seed beds, using as sandy mixture such as 50:50 washed sand and fine compost or loam. Fresh seed will germinate in three to four weeks. Allow seedlings to remain in their trays for two growing seasons before lifting and transplanting them. Transplant them in spring. Flowering can be expected from their third or fourth year.
Lift and divide the corms in late spring, just before active growth begins. Remove the old corms that stack up underneath the current corm and replant the current one (uppermost one). Remove any offsets. Reduce the leaves by half and replant immediately. Plant the corms 100 mm deep. Do not store the corms dry, they will dry out very rapidly if stored out of soil. Allow the corms to be left undisturbed for at least five years between lifting and dividing.
| Seedbank | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Arundel Seedbank | 100 |
| Zenker Seed Emporium | 50 |
| Total | 150 |
| Nursery | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Amsterdam | 50 |
| Total | 50 |
This table below shows how many plants we are trying to obtain for this species.
| Site | Area | Quantity |
|---|---|---|
| Site #60 | Bishop's Court | 10 |
| Site #62 | Newlands | 35 |
| Site #15 | Rosebank | 15 |
| Total | 60 | |
Conservation status: Least Concern
This species was selected because it has various important characteristics.
Suitable for wet sites
Suitable for clay soil
Suitable for sandy soil
It provides food for:
Southern double-collared sunbird
Watsonia meriana is indigenous to: Cape Flats Sand Fynbos Cape Flats Sand Fynbos
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