Bowiea volubilis | Climbing onion
€26,50
🌱 Morphology
A rarity. Deciduous bulbous succulent from the Asparagaceae family. The star of the show is a large, flattened globose bulb that can reach about 15 cm in diameter, formed by numerous whitish fleshy scales that take on greenish or yellowish tones when exposed. The true leaves are tiny and disappear very quickly; photosynthesis is carried out by the green, fleshy, finely branched and climbing stems, which can reach 3–4 m and form a spectacular aerial tangle. The small star-shaped flowers appear scattered along these stems.
🌍 Distribution, habitat and family
Its natural range extends from Uganda to South Africa, including much of eastern and southern Africa. In South Africa, it is found mainly in the eastern regions, from the Eastern Cape to Limpopo, growing among shrubby vegetation, in open woodlands, ravines, riverbanks, and stony areas. It is a species of seasonally dry environments with predominantly summer rainfall. It belongs to the Asparagaceae family, Scilloideae subfamily.
❄️ Temperature
USDA Zone 10a Tolerates minimum temperatures of up to −1 ºC. For container cultivation, it is preferable to avoid frost and keep the bulb dry when temperatures are low. The USDA classification comes from North Carolina Extension.
☀️ Lighting
It needs high light levels to develop an abundant network of photosynthetic stems, although it tolerates direct sun and bright partial shade. A PAR DLI target above 20 mol/m²/day during growth promotes strong stems and a compact structure.
💧 Growth cycle and watering
Winter dormancy. At the end of its active period, the stems yellow and dry out, and the bulb enters dormancy. During growth, it is recommended to water abundantly and let the substrate dry out completely before the next watering. When the above-ground part begins to dry out, water is gradually reduced until the bulb is kept practically dry during dormancy.
🌸 Flowering
Small, star-shaped flowers, green to yellowish-green, approximately 16–24 mm in diameter, arranged along the climbing stems. In its natural range, it flowers mainly between January and March; in Madrid, this corresponds approximately to July–September.
🌿 Nutrition
During the active growth period, a balanced fertilizer for bulbous succulents is recommended, such as Desert CHOICE Succulents with high levels of bioavailable potassium and calcium, applied in moderation during watering and avoiding excess nitrogen.
This is an inimitable xerophyte grown in Madrid in a high-tech square pot with substrate activated with mycorrhizal fungi.
Gourmet black pot measuring 7 × 7 cm.
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