Story: Signature Series (Boophones)
Episode: 9
Presenter: Bonnie Marie-Hibbs
Air Date: 30th September 2023

Bonnie gets to see some of the Van Berkel family’s prized signature series plants - the Boophone.

• Renowned and highly sought after for it’s architectural fan shaped foliage, Boophone Disticha is known by a number of different names in it’s native South Africa; Century plant, Gifbol and Poison Bulb are just a few.
• A Winter growing, Summer dormant bulb, the attractive wavy grey green foliage emerges from a large scaly bulb, that in true Amaryllidaceae fashion needs to be planted with most of the bulb above soil level.
• A large pot is the easiest way of creating the environment that is required. Bulbs are highly sensitive to excess moisture during the growing season, and as such require a sandy, well drained soil mixture. A custom blend incorporating perlite or coarse sand is recommended to create a fast draining mix.
• Boophone require a full sun to part shade position to grow well and if growing in a garden bed select a frost free position and a sandy well drained soil. Any rainfall during the dormant period will cause the bulb to rot so we do not recommend this method for most climates.
• Caution: Parts of the plant are poisonous if ingested and the pollen may cause an allergic reaction.

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