Daubenya

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Daubenya is a gorgeous genus from S.Africa. Once regarded as having just one species but was revised in 2002* and now has eight species. All have two spreading leaves and white, yellow or red tubular flowers in a raceme. They are all strange and wonderful plants, beautiful beyond belief.

Most of the species are from winter rainfall areas but many are very restricted. D.aurea is found only high in the Roggerveld, where it grows with Daubenya-eating porcupines and porcupine-eating leopards.

They need fertile soil, good feeding, dry leaves, good drainage and good drainage! Most will accept some winter cold, but will not take freezing. In the wild D. aurea is used to snow. The others grow in drier habitats, with seasonal moisture.

* J.C. Manning and A.M. van der Merwe, "Systematics of the genus Daubenya (Hyacinthaceae: Massonieae)", in BOTHALIA, 32, 2, pp. 133-150 (Oct 2002)

Available for ordering from Spring and Autumn lists.

Daubenya comata

A remarkable species from the Free State in South Africa. The plant has two, attractive, wavy-edged, elongated leaves, each some 15cm long by 2cm wide. These have a prominent yellowish central stripe.

Between these is a lovely tufted inflorescence of white, lavender or pink, flowers closely packed together. This stock shows a lovely variation right across the colour spectrum for the species. The flowers are usually 3cm tall and the umbel 4–5cm wide with 5-40 individual blooms.

In addition to their obvious beauty the flowers are very strongly and spicily scented, both in the day and the evening.

A good, fertile, loam-based compost is fine in cultivation but use LOTS of silver sand or rounded porous gravel - not sharp grit. Moist in spring then dry after the top growth yellows. Like all Daubenya, it needs glasshouse culture in the UK, but the plant is subject to light frosts in the wild and does not need, nor like, anything too hot and dry in cultivation.


Daubenya comatadaucomcom	£16.50
Large view

Daubenya stylosa

One of the most attractive species in what is anyway, a fabulous little genus composed of superstars. This has glowing bright yellow flowers. The petals have a slight tinge of orange whilst the long style and the filaments which hold the anthers are bright yellow. The overall effect is stunning.

The flowers have a strong scent of honey. They ooze nectar and are bee- and butterfly-pollinated. This different scent and a distinct floral structure attracts different pollinators and helps keep this species distinct. Unlike most species, the seed of stylosa is comparatively large and heavy and spreads only locally (it is not wind dispersed as in many Daubenya).

This is autumnal, flowering from October to November and is known only from a few populations in the immediate vicinity of Nieuwoudtville (see D. capense) where it grows in red doleritic clay. The species was discovered in 1934 and named just two years later. It is our rarest Daubenya offering.

As with most Daubenya, these need a sharply-drained compost and are best kept dry from July to October and just frost-free, but cool, light and airy, in winter.


Daubenya stylosadaustysty	£22.50
Flowering-sized and flowered bulbs raised from seed. These are on northern hemisphere time. This new stock is substantially less than half our previous price and the bulbs are larger. Large view