Yellow Bulbine-lily Plant Care
Bulbine bulbosa Haw.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Bulbine bulbosa, commonly known as bulbine lily, native leek, golden lily, or native onion, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a perennial herb with thick roots, channelled leaves, and yellow flowers with hairy stamen filaments.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
50–85°F
30–60%
At a glance
How do you care for Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Water Yellow Bulbine-lily every 7–14 days, letting the top layer of soil dry out between waterings, and give it full sun to partial shade. It prefers temperatures of 50–85°F (10–29°C) and 30–60% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Yellow Bulbine-lily Native To?
What Is the Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Yellow Bulbine-lily (Bulbine bulbosa) belongs to the Asphodelaceae family within the Bulbine genus. Yellow Bulbine-lily is native to Australia. Yellow Bulbine-lily is also known as Bulbine Lily.
Yellow Bulbine-lily displays a clumping succulent perennial growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Yellow Bulbine-lily produces spike-like clusters of yellow or orange flowers.
Leaf size: approximately 6 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Bulbine bulbosa requires watering every 7–14 days. Allow the top layer of soil to dry between waterings to prevent root rot. Reduce watering frequency during winter when growth slows.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Let soil partially dry between waterings
What Light Does the Yellow Bulbine-lily Need?
Yellow Bulbine-lily thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Yellow Bulbine-lily Prefer?
Bulbine bulbosa grows best at temperatures of 50–85°F. Yellow Bulbine-lily prefers humidity levels of 30–60%.
Temperature
50–85°F
Humidity
30–60%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Well-draining sandy soil mix with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Yellow Bulbine-lily to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Feed Yellow Bulbine-lily every 6 months during the growing season (spring and summer) with a balanced fertilizer diluted to the strength on the label.
Pause feeding in autumn and winter, when growth slows, and never fertilize dry soil — water first.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
How Do You Repot a Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Repot every 2-3 years in early spring. Choose a pot one size larger than the current container, and ensure it has drainage holes to allow excess water to escape.
How Do You Propagate a Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Yellow Bulbine-lily can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets, stem cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to glaucous bulbine plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the Yellow Bulbine-lily Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Yellow Bulbine-lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Yellow Bulbine-lily?
Yellow Bulbine-lily is susceptible to aphids, spider mites. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
What USDA Hardiness Zone Does the Yellow Bulbine-lily Need?
Yellow Bulbine-lily grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Yellow Bulbine-lily is native to Australia. In cooler regions, grow Yellow Bulbine-lily as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.
Hardiness Zone
Zone 12a
Keep exploring plants
Yellow Bulbine-lily is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Bulbine genus — compare its care with other Bulbine species on PlantoScan.
Bulbine is part of the Asphodelaceae plant family — browse all Asphodelaceae genera and species.
Yellow Bulbine-lily thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Bulbine Species
Other Bulbine species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Bulbine bulbosa Haw., family Asphodelaceae (first published in Suppl. Pl. Succ. : 33 (1819)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Yellow Bulbine-lily, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Hardiness zone: USDA Zone 12a, calculated from the plant's minimum temperature.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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