Bugle Lily

Bugle Lily (Watsonia) - Beautiful bulbous plants of the Iris family. In the southern counties some of them succeed in open borders, but elsewhere they are tender. There are about a dozen species and about as many varieties, half of which are variations from W. Meriana. All are from S. Africa, their headquarters being the Cape. There is much variety of color, and "mixed" selections are offered by the growers. The commonest species seem to be W. Meriana, W. Coccinea, W. iridifolia, W. rosea alba, W. humilis, W. angusta (also known as W. fulgida), and W. aletroides. Choice kinds with pure white flowers are W. Ardernei, where they are borne on long branched stems, and W. iridifolia OBrieni, which is like W. rosea except in color. These are true Watsonias, and have finer flowers than the other sections of the genus. The white Watsonia (W. alba) is a lovely plant, flowering in early summer. Treatment similar to that recommended for the early Gladioli will suit them.