Hyacinthaceae  Linnaeus 1753 - Bluebell Family

Left: Bowiea volubilis is often grown as a curiousity and is extememly tolerant of cultural conditions. It is easy to grow a 10 in or larger bulb. Plant the bulb on the surface of well-drained soil. In the interests of sanity, plant the bulb by or under a climbing frame and encourage the growing shoot to wind around it, taking great care as it is quite brittle. Alternatively, grow in a hanging basket and allow the stem to hang down. Water weekly while in growth and fertilise with high nitrogen plant food to encourage the bulb to fatten up. Withdraw water when the annual growth starts to die back, usually in the Autumn. Cut off the dead stem when it has browned, wait a few weeks, then water occasionally until a new growth appears.
Despite the common names, all parts are poisonous.

Left: Lachenalia pustulata is a plant of the South-Western Cape, flowering in late Summer to early Autumn. The lanceolate leaves may be smooth or pustulate as the species name implies. The bell-shaped flowers in shades of cream, pink or blue are carried on long pedicels. Anthers are exserted.

Left: Lachenalia unicolor is a plant of the Bokkeveld Mountains of South Africa, flowering in early Autumn. The inflorescence is typically a spike of many tubular brightly coloured flowers. The flowers on long pedicels may be cream, and shades of pink to purple and blue with green or purple markings. Anthers are exserted.

Left: Lachenalia viridiflorus is a rare species from a very limited range on the Western Cape, but fairly common in cultivation.

Massonia depressa is noteworthy for the yeasty perfume of its flowers, which are pollinated by gerbils and other rodents attracted to a copious supply of viscous nectar. The large flat leaves may be spotted or have reddened leaf margins.
 
It is native to winter rainfall regions of the South African Cape and Namaqualand, a guide for watering in cultivation.
 
Photographed in the Alpine House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Massonia echinata from winter rainfall regions of the South African Cape has sweetly scented flowers, with shorter filaments that M. pustulata. The leaves may be smooth, pustulate or echinate.

Massonia pustulata is a striking species with rose-scented, white to pink shaving brush flowers of long stamen filaments, offset by pustulate green to purple or purple-streaked leaves. Most species of Massonia are pollinated by bees and butterflies.
 
Found in sandy soils of the Western Cape, Namaqualand and the Karoo. The plants are drought tolerant and said to be cold hardy in dry conditions.

Massonia bifolia   Syn. Whiteheadia bifolia, Eucomis bifolia
has a very different inflorescence to other species of Massonia, but may appeal to those attracted to the unusual. The inflorescence has a sour perfume and is produced in the middle of two large eliptical leaves. The robust cluster of green flowers within prominent green bracts has a sculpted appearance.
 
This is a plant from arid winter rainfall areas of Southern Namibia, Namaqualand and the Western Cape, growing in crevices which provide a protective microclimate and conserve moisture. It is reported to be rodent-pollinated.

Ornithogalum dubium (Snake Flower)
A perrennial bulb from the South-Western Cape Province of South Africa. The 4 in lanceolate leaves have a ciliate margin. The inflorescence in early Spring is a spheroidal raceme of up to 25 orange, red, yellow or rarely white flowers, often with a brownish or greenish center. This is one of the few species with brightly coloured flowers in the genus.
 
Not frost hardy but excellent for a cold alpine house although bulbs have a habit of becoming dormant. Needs a dry period after flowering. Cut flowers are long-lived in a vase. All parts are poisonous.

Ornithogalum lanceolatum (Star of Bethlehem) is a small plant from Palestine. Clustered white flowers are hidden among tapering green leaves. Petals may have fine green stripes on their inner surface and there is a wide band on the outer three petals.
 
The same common name is applied to several dissimilar species. Not frost hardy but excellent for a cold alpine house.

 
Ornithogalum longibracteatum (Pregnant Onion) is a widely-grown curiousity. The large greenish bulbs should be planted on the surface of the soil. As they grow, the bulbs become covered in layers of silvery paper-like skin, under which small bulbils develop on the surface of the bulb, giving rise to the common name. The inflorescence is a cluster of small greenish-white flowers on the end of a long stem. Although moderately hardy, this species wouldn't survive the cold-wet English winter.
Despite the common name, all parts are poisonous.

Scilla peruviana (Cuban Lily). This large bulb is native to Spain and the central Mediterranean and is hardy in a sunny, well drained position or cold frame. The large hemisperical lilac flower makes a striking feature in the mid-Spring.