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Babiana nervosa is often confused with:
Freesia Freesia
Gladiolus Flower
Iris Flower in pond pots (1.5 ft. of water) in spring in Moore County
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Clematis hybrida Clematis 'marcelina' late large flowered
Iris x germanica Iris germanica in the spring in Moore County
Pelargonium x hybridum flowers
Babiana nervosa has some common insect problems:
Potato Aphid on Ornamental Plants

Blue Freesias Babiana nervosa

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Babiana caesia
  • Babiana erectifolia
  • Babiana flavocaesia
  • Babiana stricta
  • Gladiolus nervosus
Phonetic Spelling
ba-bee-AN-uh ner-VO-suh
Description

Having been awarded The Royal Horticultural Society's Garden Merit Award, this plant looks like a small version of gladiolus with freesia-like flowers. It prefers well-drained soil, full sun and tolerates afternoon sun. You should place plants 2"-6" apart. Its common name (Baboon Flower) came from this plant being eaten by baboons in South Africa.

Tender III- injured below 25 degrees F (2 degrees C).

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • B. 'Corina'
  • B. laxa 'Queen Fabiola'
  • B. plicata
  • B. rubrocyanea
  • 'Purple Star'
B. 'Corina', B. laxa 'Queen Fabiola', B. plicata, B. rubrocyanea, 'Purple Star'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#corms#frost tender#blue flowers#spring flowers#fall interest#summer flowers#tender perennials#ornamentals#spring interest#flowers early summer#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#tropical feel
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • B. 'Corina'
  • B. laxa 'Queen Fabiola'
  • B. plicata
  • B. rubrocyanea
  • 'Purple Star'
B. 'Corina', B. laxa 'Queen Fabiola', B. plicata, B. rubrocyanea, 'Purple Star'
Tags:
#purple#fragrant#showy flowers#full sun tolerant#fragrant flowers#purple flowers#pink flowers#red flowers#corms#frost tender#blue flowers#spring flowers#fall interest#summer flowers#tender perennials#ornamentals#spring interest#flowers early summer#partial shade tolerant#problem for cats#problem for dogs#problem for horses#tropical feel
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Babiana
    Species:
    nervosa
    Family:
    Iridaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    SW. Cape Province (South Africa)
    Bulb Storage:
    Leave corms in dry planting medium and store at 70 degrees F (21 degrees C)
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil pH:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    Seed pods
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Gold/Yellow
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    White
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Description:
    Smelling like lemons, these flowers bloom anywhere from mid-spring to early summer. They bloom in groups (up to 12 flowers, as low as 6 flowers) on each individual stem.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Smooth
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Hairs Present:
    No
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Flowers bloom in groups (up to 12 flowers, as low as 6 flowers) on each individual stem.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
    Problem for Horses