Elegant Bulbine Plant Care

Bulbinella elegans Schltr. ex P.L.Perry

Updated · Sources · How we source care data

Bulbinella elegans is a species of flowering plant in the family Asphodelaceae. It is found in the Cape Province of South Africa.

Water

Every 7–14 days

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Temp

50–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

At a glance

How do you care for Elegant Bulbine?

Water Elegant Bulbine 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 50–80°F (10–27°C) and 40–70% humidity. Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.

Where Is the Elegant Bulbine Native To?

Native range1 country

What Is the Elegant Bulbine?

Elegant Bulbine (Bulbinella elegans) belongs to the Asphodelaceae family within the Bulbinella genus. Elegant Bulbine is native to the Cape Province of South Africa.

Elegant Bulbine displays a clumping perennial herb growth habit, reaching up to 1.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1 ft. Elegant Bulbine produces spike-like clusters of small, star-shaped flowers in shades of yellow, orange, or red.

Leaf size: approximately 12 inches.

How Often Should You Water a Elegant Bulbine?

Bulbinella elegans 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 Elegant Bulbine Need?

Elegant Bulbine thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Light Requirement

Full sun to partial shade

What Temperature and Humidity Does the Elegant Bulbine Prefer?

Bulbinella elegans grows best at temperatures of 50–80°F. Elegant Bulbine prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.

Temperature

50–80°F

Humidity

40–70%

What Soil Mix Works Best for a Elegant Bulbine?

Well-draining sandy soil mix with added organic matter like compost or peat moss. Good drainage is essential for Elegant Bulbine to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

How Often Should You Fertilize a Elegant Bulbine?

Feed Elegant Bulbine 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 Elegant Bulbine?

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 Elegant Bulbine?

Elegant Bulbine can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets, root cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to narrow-leaved bulbine plant care, which shares the same genus.

Is the Elegant Bulbine Toxic to Pets and Children?

Pet safety not verified

The ASPCA does not list Elegant Bulbine, 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 Elegant Bulbine?

Elegant Bulbine is susceptible to aphids, snails, slugs. 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 Elegant Bulbine Need?

Elegant Bulbine grows outdoors in USDA Zone 12a. It survives winters down to planting zone 12a. Elegant Bulbine is native to the Cape Province of South Africa. In cooler regions, grow Elegant Bulbine as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.

Hardiness Zone

Zone 12a

Keep exploring plants

Elegant Bulbine 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 Bulbinella genus — compare its care with other Bulbinella species on PlantoScan.

Bulbinella is part of the Asphodelaceae plant family — browse all Asphodelaceae genera and species.

Elegant Bulbine thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.

More Bulbinella Species

Other Bulbinella species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:

Sources

  • Scientific name & taxonomy: Bulbinella elegans Schltr. ex P.L.Perry, family Asphodelaceae (first published in S. African J. Bot. 53: 437 (1987)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
  • Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Elegant Bulbine, 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.

PlantoScan app icon

Identify Plants Like the
Elegant Bulbine Instantly

Scan any plant with your phone camera and get instant ID, care tips, water and fertilizer reminders, and health checks — all in one app.

Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play

Free

to download

iOS & Android

platforms

Light & dark

mode

100,000+

species