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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Asphodelaceae (~Liliaceae) |
| Origin: New Zealand (Australasia) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Yellow |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Synonyms: [Anthericum hookeri and Chrysobactron hookeri] |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): High Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Bulbinella hookeri (Maori Onion) – A clump forming perennial with fleshy iris-like mid-green channeled leaves that are erect but not rigid to 2 feet tall with a stout flowering stem that rises about the foliage bearing a 12-16 inch spike of star-like buttercup yellow flowers in late spring to mid-summer – the flowers open from the bottom to the top of the spike with the green unopened buds appearing as a cone-like cap to the inflorescence. Plant in full sun to light shade and irrigate regularly - this plant is noted as easily grown and tolerating a wide range of soils though best with good drainage and ample irrigation. Hardy to around 25°F. This is an attractive and useful plant for use in the rock garden, pond edge or in an irrigated border. This plant is native to New Zealand and found in both the North Island, from Mount Taranaki east to the Huiarau Range, Volcanic Plateau and Ruahine Range, and in the South Island from Nelson and Marlborough south to the Lowry Peaks Range, where it often grows in moist sites. The fleshy root was apparently eaten by the indigenous Maori people. Bulbinella are only found in South Africa and New Zealand. This plant was originally described from specimens collected by John Carne Bidwell at a boggy area in alluvial plains at the upper part of the Wairau. J.D. Hooker described this plant as Chrysobactron hookeri in 1851 in the “Botanical Magazine” (later Curtis). Hooker later revised the name to Anthericum hookeri in 1864 but it was later published in the New Zealand Flora in 1906 as Bulbinella hookeri as described by Thomas Frederic Cheeseman. Our thanks to John Bleck for providing our original stock and picture for this plant.
The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.
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