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Wild Hyacinth Brodiaea

Previously known as:

  • Bloomeria
  • Dicholostemma
  • Hookera
  • Ipheion
Phonetic Spelling
broh-dee-EYE-ah
Description

Brodiaea is a family of herbaceous perennials that are grown from bulbs or tubers and include about 17 species. Over time, this family has been classified and reclassified under several other families, including Dichelostemma and Triteleia, to the point where Brodiaea is sometimes used as a common name for all three.

The plant grows to about 20 inches high and displays grass-like foliage and bare stems holding a number of blue to purple flowers. In general, the plant prefers full sun, but tolerates up to 25% shade during any given day. It grows best in well-drained soil in full sun. It will tolerate partial sun, but flowering will be limited in shade. It tolerates moist soil and drought, is happy with moist soil in the spring and winter and relative dryness in the summer, and the flowers are fragrant and make good cut flowers. The plant is not particularly cold hardy, incurring injury at temperatures below 23 degrees F. and would appreciate about 2 inches of mulch over the winter.

To plant from seed, sow 1/4 inch deep and thin to 3 to 5 seedlings. Note that when planted from seed, do not expect flowers for 2 to 3 years. The most common method to propagate the plant is with bulbs. To grow from bulbs, dig mature corms in the fall and divide, store the corms in a dry space at 70 to 77 degrees F. Plant the corms in the spring, 5 inches deep and space about 3 to 4 inches apart.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:  No known issues.  The NC State Extension Publications list includes a factsheet on the Narcissus Bulb Fly which is known to frequent this plant.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • B. laxa
  • 'Candida'
  • 'Corina'
  • 'Queen Fabiola'
B. laxa, 'Candida', 'Corina', 'Queen Fabiola'
Tags:
#fragrant#bulb#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#deer resistant#grass-like#cutting garden
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • B. laxa
  • 'Candida'
  • 'Corina'
  • 'Queen Fabiola'
B. laxa, 'Candida', 'Corina', 'Queen Fabiola'
Tags:
#fragrant#bulb#showy flowers#fragrant flowers#drought tolerant#deer resistant#grass-like#cutting garden
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Brodiaea
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Seed
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Western coast of North America
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    deer resistant
    Bulb Storage:
    Store overwinter in a dry location and 70 to 77 degrees F.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 8 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Description:
    Fruit capsules are ovoid. Seeds are black, rounded to flattened, and coated with crust with longitudinal surface striations.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Good Cut
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Star
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Description:
    Flowering stem carries a number of flowers. Individuals have six blue to purple tepals, joined at the base to form a tube. The outer three tepal lobes are narrower than the inner three.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Between one and six narrow leaves are produced from the corm. Leaves are basal; blade linear, crescent-shaped in cross section.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Flowers bloom on wiry stems rising to 12-24” tall.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Naturalized Area
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought