Bowiea volubilis
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Schizobasopsis volubilis
- Phonetic Spelling
- boh-wee-AY-ah vol-OO-bil-iss
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Climbing onion is a large, exposed, green, scaly bulb in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae). It is a succulent perennial that thrives in the dry desert regions of eastern and southern Africa, but outside of its native environment, it is more often grown as a houseplant or as a specimen plant.
Climbing onion prefers gritty, well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Water regularly during the growing season, and rarely, if at all, during dormancy. Propagate from bulblets that form at the base of the plant and can be removed in late summer or fall. Or a thick outer fleshy peel of the bulb scale can be cut from the mother bulb, divided and planted to form bulblets.
In spring, small, green-white star-shaped flowers appear along the largely leafless stems that grow from a large bulb. The stems will twine around a sturture or themselves and grow up to 15 feet tall outdoors, but closer to 6 feet as a house plant.
Use this bulb in a container in a bright sunny window. It can be taken outdoors in the summer and brought inside before the temperature drops below 50 degrees F. It can also be grown in a greenhouse.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Bowiea
- Species:
- volubilis
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The plant has medicinal properties
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Uganda to South Africa
- Climbing Method:
- Twining
- Edibility:
- Despite its common name, it is not an edible onion.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Houseplant
- Poisonous
- Succulent
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Climbing
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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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 Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Produces three-chambered capsules in its native habitat but rately as a house[ plant.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small, green-white flowers appear along the stems.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Insignificant
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The stems act as leaves
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- In late winter, vining stems emerge from the bulb and grow up any nearby support. As they mature, dense lacy branches form. When fall arrives, the growth dies back.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic if large quantities are eaten. Minor skin irritation lasting only a few minutes. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, cramping, slow pulse; contact with bulb can cause irritation of wet skin
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cardiac glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Seeds
- Stems
