Bulbine, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida
Bulbine is a tough, clumping succulent perennial with grassy leaves and spikes of yellow flowers, and it does very well in SW Florida sun. It blooms through much of the year, wants little water and handles heat and sandy soil. It is best for sunny borders, rock beds and edges. We deliver and plant 1 gallon plants.
- Light:
- Full sun to part sun
- Water:
- Low; drought tolerant once established, but rots in soggy soil
- Salt:
- Moderate
Bulbine sizes we deliver and plant
Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.
| Plant | Sizes |
|---|---|
| Bulbine | 1 Gallon |
Bulbine in SW Florida, at a glance
- Mature size here
- 1 to 2 ft tall and wide, in a clump
- Light
- Full sun to part sun
- Water
- Low; drought tolerant once established, but rots in soggy soil
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate
- Cold tolerance
- Handles typical SW Florida cold; foliage browns in a hard freeze and regrows from the base
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Spacing
- 12 to 18 in on center
- Florida native
- No, native to southern Africa
- Botanical name
- Bulbine frutescens
Where Bulbine works in a SW Florida yard
Bulbine suits sunny front beds where you want long-lasting color without much work. Plant it in drifts of five or more along a walk, or as an edge in front of agave, aloe and ornamental grasses.
The yellow flower spikes rise above clumps of narrow, succulent leaves and pair well with the blue of blue daze. Give it full sun and sharp drainage, and leave room for the clumps to widen.
- Sunny border edging
- Low-water perennial beds
- Rock and gravel gardens
- Containers
How our crew plants it
Set bulbine in well-drained soil with the crown level with or just above the bed, spacing plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Dig each hole as wide as the pot and no deeper. We water in well and mound the soil slightly where water stands after rain.
Lee and Collier allow extra watering for new plantings, so water every few days at first.
Care after planting
- Water new plants every few days for a few weeks, then let established clumps dry between waterings, since as a succulent it does best on the lean side.
- Cut spent flower stalks back to the base to keep blooms coming and the clump tidy.
- Divide crowded clumps every two to three years in spring.
- Skip rich fertilizer; one light feeding in spring is plenty.
What to watch for
- Soggy soil is the main killer, causing crown rot in the rainy season, so plant on a slight mound in beds that hold water.
Bulbine questions we hear
Does bulbine do well in Florida heat and rain?+
Yes, in sun and good drainage. Bulbine handles heat, sandy soil and dry spells, and it blooms for much of the year. The rainy season is the risk, because wet crowns rot, so plant it on a slight mound and keep sprinklers off it.
How far apart should I plant bulbine?+
Space plants 12 to 18 inches apart. Closer fills a border faster, and the clumps widen over a couple of years. Plant in groups of odd numbers for a natural look, and keep them in front of taller plants so the flower stalks show.
Does bulbine bloom all year in Florida?+
Nearly. Bulbine blooms through much of the year in SW Florida, with the heaviest flowering from spring through fall. Cutting spent stalks back keeps new ones coming. A hard freeze can brown the leaves, but clumps regrow from the base.
Updated October 2026
Get a planted price on Bulbine
Tell us what and how many. Quinten prices it from the nursery's live list and texts you back, usually within the hour during the day.
Only need the plant delivered, no planting? It is on our nursery's list at Palm & Plant Co.
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We deliver and plant across Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Estero, Bonita Springs and about an hour around.