Dear All:
Babianas are among the most rewarding of all South African
bulbous plants. It is difficult to add anything to Rachel’s superb
introduction. I have grown Babianas here for decades (roughly zone 9b). They
need full sun and a good summer baking when dormant. They are in clay pots
16 cm in diameter in raised beds 30 cm tall. The plunging material among
pots is very gritty. I have chosen clay pots not because they were any
better than plastic (actually they are worse for this kind of bulbs) but it
was a lot easier to find them the same size than were plastic pots. For the
sake of tidiness it looks better if all the pots in the raised beds are the
same size. These pots are only 16 cm tall and although Babianas are better
in really big pots they can be grown to perfection in this size (the minimum
size, in smaller pots they lack depth). I mention. Mix in the pots are
commercial compost, crushed rock and coarse perlite in equal proportions.
Corms must be planted deep as the buried portion of the stem produces
offsets and this way the possibilities of a small clump forming are
increased. They do well with very little fertilizer and are susceptible to
few pests (mostly red spider mite). Flowers are gorgeous and all the species
without exception have a charm their own that make them very interesting,
not to mention that some are downright stunning. The foliage that is similar
in all species is hairy and pleated and is attractive on its own. Species
would hybridise easily and hybrids are fantastic in a range of colors that
are not present in the species. Babiana species and hybrids are long lived.
I have grown most of the species and they are undemanding under our
conditions (full sun and mostly frost free in tunnels). Some can be half
hardy in a protected sunny spot perhaps to zone 9. Those from Namaqualand
demand more care as to perfect drainage and frost free conditions. Babianas
are susceptible to viruses particularly one propagated in Watsonias and that
affect other irids like Freesia, Ixia and Sparaxis.
Those problems mentioned by Mary Sue, Jim and others are caused by lack of
warmth and lack of light intensity. Much recommended for zones 8-10 both in
greenhousse and in the open.
All the best
Alberto
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