Burn Jelly Plant – Bulbine (Yellow Flowering)

Description

Burn Jelly Plant (Bulbine frutescens) is a hardy, succulent-like perennial from South Africa, widely grown for its drought tolerance, ease of care, and soothing medicinal gel. It forms dense clumps of fleshy, grass-like leaves and produces long, wiry flower stalks topped with bright star-shaped blooms in shades of sunny yellow or vibrant orange (depending on variety). Flowering can occur for much of the year in mild climates, bringing a cheerful splash of colour to borders, rockeries, and dry gardens.

This plant thrives in full sun and free-draining soils, tolerating poor soils, heat, and dry conditions. In New Zealand, it is hardy in most frost-free areas, though it may need protection or a warm microclimate in cooler regions. Once established, it is very low-maintenance, spreading gradually to form attractive groundcover clumps.

The gel inside the leaves is well known in folk medicine as a soothing application for minor burns, insect bites, rashes, and skin irritations, earning it the name “burn jelly plant.” In addition to its healing properties, Bulbine frutescens is a pollinator-friendly plant, with its nectar-rich blooms attracting bees and butterflies. Its resilience, ornamental flowers, and practical herbal uses make it an excellent choice for cottage gardens, medicinal plantings, and sustainable landscapes.