Fantastic Design Plant: Bulbine Frutescens'Hallmark'

‘Hallmark’ bulbine (Bulbine frutescens‘Hallmark’) is a favourite plant for low-water backyard configurations, from Mediterranean to modern. “It is a great accent plant, an almost nonstop bloomer and looks great during the seasons,” says landscape designer Eileen Kelly. “It is magnificent massed, and both beautiful mingled with companion plants that have contrasting foliage and flower colors.” If you live in USDA climate zones 8-10, you can plant versatile, easy-to-grow bulbine now for prolific blooms in spring.

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Botanical name: Bulbine frutescens ‘Hallmark’ (syn. Bulbine caulescens)
Common title: Snake blossom, Bulbine, cat’s tail, Bulbine lily, Hallmark Bulbine, Hallmark cat’s whiskers, lighten vera plant
USDA Islands:8-10 see climate-zone map
Water condition: Low once established
Sun requirement: Full sun to light shade
Mature size: 1′-2′ tall x 2′ spread
Tolerances: Drought, no Substantial pest problems, deer resistant, dirt
Environmental benefits: Flowers attract bees, butterflies and hummingbirds

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Distinguishing traits. Though this plant has all of the low-maintenance and water-wise advantages that come from being a succulent, its graceful arching shape and vibrant buds match over only the desert modern backyard. Fleshy green leaves take up 6 to 8 inches with gold flower stalks rising high above the foliage. ‘Hallmark’ blooms spring through fall, and year round in certain ponds.

Smaller and more compact than the right bulbine species, the real distinguishing difference is color. ‘Hallmark’ generates an orange blossom while the right species blossoms are yellow. Here you may see orange’Hallmark’ implanted next to the first.

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The best way to use it. Little floral clusters make’Hallmark’ an ideal orange accent for gardens of color and style. Compare trendy and muted colors of a fresh succulent garden or match the daring green foliage of a tropical sanctuary with’Hallmark’ buds. Kelly suggests matching with succulents, lavender, lambs ears, Euphorbia and lavender cotton, among other drought-tolerant plants. “I just love to use Bulbine frutscens‘Hallmark’ in some of the gardens I design when I want a splash of orange/yellow color, without overpowering the company plantings,” she says.

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Plant Hallmark in a mass, in a rock garden, or even in a living wall. For such a delicate-looking blossom, this perennial is fairly tough and will survive in many applications. Imagine a sea of orange cascading down your difficult backyard slope or possibly a little hint of tangerine peaking up from within a planter in your kitchen.

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Keep it growing. There is not a lot that must be done after obtaining this plant from the ground. This cultivar is heat tolerant than the species and frost-hardy to approximately 20 degrees Farenheit. ‘Hallmark’ will regrow in spring if frost ruined during winter. Maintain its dirt well-drained and spent flower stalks deadheaded, and’Hallmark’ will continue its profuse flame of blossoms.

More great design crops:
Toyon | Black Mondo Grass | Feather Reed Grass | New Zealand Wind Grass | Red Kangaroo Paw | Blue Chalk Sticks | Catmint | Slipper Plant

Great design trees:
Manzanita | Japanese Maple | Persian Ironwood | Smoke Tree | Bald Cypress | Tree Aloe

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