Snake Flower Bulbine

Snake flower bulbine is a spreading succulent perennial with fleshy, narrow green leaves and upright sprays of small yellow or orange flowers with conspicuous yellow stamens. [Kew](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/532144-1) treats Bulbine caulescens, the county’s parenthetical name, as a synonym of Bulbine frutescens. This species record does not select a particular orange- or yellow-flowered cultivar. [SANBI](https://pza.sanbi.org/bulbine-frutescens) recommends a sunny to partly shaded position and well-drained soil, preferably improved with compost. Established clumps tolerate drought and can expand quickly. Trim untidy growth and remove spent flower stalks to encourage further flowering. Propagate by division, cuttings or seed in spring. Its clumping habit suits a dry border, rock garden or container where drainage is maintained. The [San Luis Obispo County January 2014 plant list](https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/planning-building/forms-documents/environmental-forms-and-documents/plants-information/county-approved-plant-list) lists Bulbine frutescens (caulescens) and assigns F2. F2 identifies its most fire-retardant plants for the 30–70-foot band from a structure. The category is source-specific and does not guarantee that a plant will not burn. The county requires suitable soil moisture, uncrowded planting, removal of dead material, separated plant groups and prevention of ground-to-canopy fuel connections.