Watsonia Flowers

Description

• Watsonia reaches heights of 36 to 48 inches. Leaves are upright and pointed, and flower spikes seemingly float above the leaves. Beginning in early summer, blooms appear in hues of orange, red, pink, yellow and white. Flowers are long-lived and also do well as cut flowers. In a study conducted in Florida from 1994 to 1997, lead author R.H. Stamps found that flowers on a cultivar of Watsonia called Mrs. Bullard's White lasted for 44 days.

Growing Watsonia

• Watsonia, a native of South Africa, prefers a sunny and warm spot in the garden. Plants require water only during lengthy dry spells. Given a protective layer of mulch, plants are cold hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone eight. Temperatures below 25 degrees Fahrenheit injure Watsonia and may result in lackluster blooms. In fall, plant corms in well-drained soil, 3 inches deep and 12 inches apart.

Winter Storage

• Corms need extra protection in locations that experience winters colder than 25 degrees F. Plan to dig up corms just before the first frost; cut back remaining foliage to a few inches from the corm. After placing corms in a dry location for a few weeks, tuck them in a bag and store in a cool location with a temperature range of 35 to 45 degrees F.

Susceptibility to Rust

• Watsonia is susceptible to gladiolus rust, a fungus that attacks plants in the iris family. Officials first discovered the fungus in the United States in 2006. Symptoms include yellow spots that turn into orange pustules located on the top and underside of leaves. The fungus spreads by wind and also travels with cut flowers.