General Description/History

Watsonia is a long, spike-type flower similar to Gladiolus. It produces many white, pink or red/orange flowers in a spike, with lower flowers opening first. Flowers have 6 petals fused into a semi-cup shape, and there tend to be less flowers per spike than in Gladioli. Most forms in cultivation are hybrids arising from crosses between W. borbonica and W. meriana.

Some forms, particularly W. meriana var. ‘bulbillifera’ has become a weed in many southern parts of Australia, particularly south-west WA where it thrives in the sandy soil and hot dry conditions. This form has tubular pink/orange flowers that curve downwards.

Watsonia is mostly grown under cover in the cooler areas near Melbourne, Sydney, in Tasmania and in SA and WA. It is also collected wild from areas where it has escaped cultivation.

What to look for

• The bottom two flowers should be showing strong colour and be partly open;
• A further 5 flowers up the spike should be showing colour;
• No signs of petal damage or creases.
• Avoid spikes with brown marks or stripes on the sheaths covering the flowers and buds.
• Do not buy bunches with all the flowers open or where flowers drop when bunches are shaken.

Flower Care

1. Keep cool at all times.
2. Strip leaves from the lower half of each stem and wash any dirt off.
3. Recut at least 2 cm off each stem with sharp secateurs and place in water immediately.
4. Preservative is essential – the sugar contained within a preservative will help buds to open.
5. Replace water every day.
6. Very sensitive to ethylene. Keep them away from fruit, car exhausts and cigarette smoke.

Botanical Name: Watsonia sp.

Common Names: 

Stem Length: 30 – 80 cm

Country of Origin: South Africa

Available Colours: Orange, Pink, Red, White

Season: Winter,Spring

Availability: June,July,August,September,October,November