General Description/History

A relatively recent cut flower, Queen Fabiola bear several (10 to 20) elongated, blue flowers per stem. Flowers look a bit like agapanthus flowers, as the 6 petals split and curl back at the tips.

Queen Fabiola is a cultivar of Triteleia (syn Brodiaea) laxa, and flowers in late spring to early summer. It is an unusual shape and colour so is worth seeking out.

Queen Fabiola is grown from bulbs under cover in glass or poly houses. Most are grown in Victoria, NSW and QLD.

What to look for:

• At least 6 flowers per stem are fully open;
• Several buds showing clear blue colour;
• Avoid bunches with shrivelled lower flowers and yellow leaves.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Strip leaves from the bottom half of each stem.
3. Recut 2 cm off each stem with sharp secateurs, making sure you remove the white stem end and place in cold water immediately.
4. Preservative is needed– it will help buds to open and flowers to last.
5. Replace water every day.
6. These flowers are very sensitive to ethylene. Keep them away from fruit, car exhausts and cigarette smoke.

Interesting Facts about this Flower

The real Queen Fabiola is Doña Fabiola Fernanda María de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón, a member of the Belgian Royal Family. She is called Her Majesty Queen Fabiola of the Belgians.

Botanical Name: Triteleia laxa

Common Names: Bodiaea, Ithuriel

Stem Length: 30 to 70 cm

Country of Origin: Western USA

Available Colours: Blue

Season: Summer,Spring

Availability: November,Decemeber