Watsonia 'Apricot Queen'

Description and Characteristics

Watsonia ‘Apricot Queen’ is a beautiful South African cormous perennial, admired for its tall, upright flower spikes adorned with soft apricot to salmon-pink trumpet-shaped blooms. Its graceful, narrow flowers open sequentially up the stem, forming a glowing column of colour in late spring to early summer. This cultivar is especially valued for its unusual pastel tone, which brings gentle warmth and vertical elegance to the garden.

Mature plants reach heights of 1.2 to 1.5 metres, rising above sword-shaped, iris-like green foliage. The long, slender leaves grow in clumps at the base, providing vertical greenery before and after blooming.

‘Apricot Queen’ is ideal for sunny borders, Mediterranean-style gardens, coastal plantings, or as a cut flower crop. When planted in groups or drifts, the soft apricot blooms create a luminous, waving effect in the breeze.

• Elegant apricot/salmon-pink tubular flowers on upright stems

• Height: 120–150 cm; Spread: 30–45 cm

• Flowering time: May to early July

• Slender, clump-forming habit with upright, sword-like foliage

• A classic for dry gardens, cottage borders, and cut flower use

• Attracts pollinators, especially bees and butterflies

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Watsonia ‘Apricot Queen’ is a low-maintenance, sun-loving perennial that thrives in well-drained soil and offers excellent drought resistance once established.

• Light Requirements:

  • Requires full sun to produce strong stems and abundant flowers

  • Will not perform well in shaded areas

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers free-draining, sandy or loamy soil

  • Tolerates poor soil if drainage is excellent

  • Avoid heavy clay or soggy areas, especially in winter

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during the first year of growth

  • Once established, drought-tolerant

  • Reduce watering after flowering and allow plants to dry out slightly in summer dormancy

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in early spring

  • Optional: use a high-potash fertiliser during bloom to support flower production

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Remove spent flower spikes to maintain appearance and redirect energy

  • In autumn, cut back faded stems and remove any dead foliage

  • Leave healthy foliage in place to feed the corm

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy to about -5°C to -7°C (Zones 8–10); not reliably hardy in colder regions

  • In cooler climates, lift corms after foliage dies back and store in a frost-free location

  • Apply a thick dry mulch in milder areas to protect the crown from frost

• Planting Time:

  • Plant corms in autumn or early spring, 10–15 cm deep and 15–20 cm apart

  • Ideal for planting in groups or drifts for dramatic impact

Garden Uses, Companion Plants, and Wildlife Benefits

Watsonia ‘Apricot Queen’ provides a striking vertical accent in mixed borders and is especially suited to dry, sunny planting schemes. Its soft colouring and upright habit make it a versatile choice for a wide range of design aesthetics.

• Design Applications:

  • Ideal for gravel gardens, cut flower beds, herbaceous borders, and coastal gardens

  • Blends beautifully into cottage-style, Mediterranean, and wildlife-friendly landscapes

  • Works well in urban or low-water planting schemes

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs beautifully with salvia, kniphofia, echinacea, nepeta, and crocosmia

  • Complements grasses like Stipa tenuissima and Pennisetum villosum

  • Looks striking alongside silver-foliaged plants like Artemisia or Senecio

• Pollinator Attraction:

  • A valuable nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects

  • Blooms during the late-spring gap, helping sustain wildlife through seasonal transitions

• Cut Flower Value:

  • Long, straight stems make excellent cut flowers

  • Harvest when lower blooms begin to open for best vase life

  • Lasts 5–7 days in floral arrangements

• Propagation:

  • Divide clumps or separate corm offsets in autumn or spring

  • Watsonia spreads slowly and can be left undisturbed for several years

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-free

  • Slugs may occasionally nibble tender young shoots

  • Avoid overwatering and improve drainage to prevent corm rot

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

Click here for more information about our shipping conditions.

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.