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Watsonia angusta

narrow-leaved bugle lily

a cormous perennial with sword-shaped leaves and upright spikes of curved, tubular, orange flowers, 5cm in length, with narrow, spreading lobes, from late summer

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Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

West–facing or South–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Iridaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Tufted
Genus: Watsonia are cormous perennials with erect, linear to narrowly lance-shaped leaves and curved, tubular flowers with spreading lobes, borne in simple or branched spikes
Name status: Correct
Plant range: South Africa (W Cape, E Cape, KwaZulu-Natal)

How to grow

Cultivation

Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based compost with added sharp sand and humus. Keep just moist when dormant. Can be grown outdoors in light, well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer. Protect from frosts with a dry winter mulch

Propagation

Propagate from seed (indoors) sown at 13-18°C in autumn or division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Mediterranean climate plants
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Banks and slopes
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead as required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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