Bowiea volubilis

Also Known As

Schizobasopsis volubilis
Climbing Onion
Sea Onion
Zulu Potato

Plant type

perennial, vine, bulb / corm / tuber

size

H: 10'-12'
W: 1'-12'

planting zones

10a-12

More Options

Bowiea volubilis plant details

Bowiea volubilis is a broadleaf deciduous perennial bulb / corm / tuber or vine with green foliage. In summer white flowers emerge. Grows well with sun - mostly shade and regular - low water. Prefers to be dry when dormant. Does well in average and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Bowiea volubilis

Plant type: perennial bulb / corm / tuber or vine
Plant family: asparagaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 1 FT - 12 FT - wide, 10 FT - 12 FT - tall
Flowers: white blooms in summer
Uses: container plant, easy-to-grow, houseplant, medicinal, unique

GROWING CONDITIONS for Bowiea volubilis

USDA Zones: 10a - 12
Sun exposure: sun - mostly shade
Watering frequency: regular - low
Resistant to: verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Curious bulb that sends out long climbing/trailing stems. Keep bulb rasied and dry. Growth goes dormant in fall, to reemerge late winter.

By: Avant Gardens

This one truly thrives on neglect. A member of the lily family from South Africa, it's an old favorite that's easy-to-grow and puts on a fanciful display. In late winter, vining stems emerge from the bulb, or 'onion." With great vigor and determination, they grow up any nearby support. As they mature, dense lacy branches form and give a full appearance. When fall arrives, the growth dies back and the Climbing Onion goes into a period of dormancy.

By: Logee's Plants for Home & Garden

This perennial, succulent, tropical bulb from Africa is very unique. The bulb grows on top of the soil and sends up a long twining vine with small, dark green leaves and small, star-shaped white blooms in summer. It is easy to grow in well-drained soil and good light.

By: Almost Eden

This plant is popular in traditional African medicine, so much that it has become endangered in the wild. They use it to treat everything from heart conditions to infertility. It is a very interesting conversation piece, with feathery leaves climbing from the green bulb. The bulbs for sale are about the size of a large gumball (about an inch across). They were propagated through tissue culture (I would never sell a wild-collected bulb). They can grow much larger, old bulbs can be bigger than a softball. They grow faster when the bulb is covered up. Like most South African bulbs, they need well drained soil. They are summer growing. Not frost/cold hardy as far as I know.

By: Edens Blooms

These were seeded in 2004 and are about marble sized. The seed is from plants from Johnson's Cactus Gardens many years ago. They tend to stay small but flower and set seed profusely.