Plant Height: 8 inches
Flower Height: 12 inches
Spacing: 8 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: (annual)
Description:
Clusters of nodding, yellow-green flowers with green keels, rise above narrow, sea-green foliage in spring; impressive when massed in the garden or along borders; may go dormant in a dry summer if not watered
Ornamental Features
Narrow-leaved Albuca features dainty nodding buttery yellow orchid-like flowers with chartreuse overtones and lime green stripes rising above the foliage in mid spring. Its grassy leaves remain bluish-green in color throughout the season.
Landscape Attributes
Narrow-leaved Albuca is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting bees and butterflies to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Narrow-leaved Albuca is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Planting & Growing
Narrow-leaved Albuca will grow to be about 8 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 8 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.
This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in sandy soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs.
Narrow-leaved Albuca is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.