Watsonia Red

Description and Characteristics

Watsonia – Red is a bold and striking clump-forming, cormous perennial, best known for its vibrant red to coral-red, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear on tall, elegant flower spikes in late spring and early summer. Native to South Africa, Watsonias are prized for their architectural beauty, drought tolerance, and ability to add vertical colour and movement to sunny borders and dry gardens.

Each plant produces a fan of sword-like green leaves from the base, with flower spikes reaching up to 1.2–1.5 metres tall. The flowers, arranged along the upper part of the stem, open sequentially from bottom to top, giving a prolonged display from May to early July.

Watsonia Red is particularly effective in mass plantings, gravel gardens, and cut flower beds, where its intense colouring and upright habit provide stunning contrast with softer perennials and grasses.

• Tall spikes of red, coral-red, or scarlet blooms

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

• Flowering period: May to early July

• Upright, sword-shaped foliage forms elegant green clumps

• Ideal for sunny borders, Mediterranean gardens, and cut flower production

• Excellent for attracting bees and butterflies

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Watsonia Red is an easy-to-grow perennial that performs best in full sun and well-drained soil. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and generally low-maintenance.

• Light Requirements:

  • Needs full sun to thrive and flower well

  • Not suited to shady or overly sheltered spots

• Soil Preferences:

  • Prefers well-drained, sandy or loamy soil

  • Will grow in moderately fertile soils with good drainage

  • Avoid heavy clay or poorly drained sites

• Watering Needs:

  • Water regularly during establishment and in dry periods

  • Once established, it is drought-tolerant

  • Reduce watering after flowering and during dormancy

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced fertiliser in spring as growth starts

  • Optional: use a high-potash fertiliser during the flowering period to encourage blooms

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Remove spent flower spikes to maintain appearance and potentially encourage a second, smaller flush

  • Cut back faded flower stems in late summer

  • In autumn, clear away dead or damaged leaves and mulch in colder areas

• Winter Care:

  • Hardy to approx. -5°C to -7°C (Zones 8–10)

  • In colder climates, lift and store corms after the foliage dies back, or apply a thick dry mulch for protection

  • In containers, move to a frost-free location over winter

• Planting Time:

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

  • Allow space for air circulation to reduce disease risk

Design Uses, Companion Plants, and Wildlife Value

Watsonia Red is a showy and structural plant that suits a range of dry, sunny garden styles, from Mediterranean and gravel gardens to cut flower plots and urban terraces.

• Design Uses:

  • Excellent for vertical interest in mixed borders

  • Ideal for mass plantings, drift planting, and feature containers

  • Suited to modern minimalist, exotic, or cottage-style gardens

• Companion Plants:

  • Pair with drought-tolerant species like salvia, echinacea, crocosmia, kniphofia, and agapanthus

  • Complements ornamental grasses like Stipa tenuissima or Pennisetum

  • Contrasts well with blue-toned or silver-foliage plants like Artemisia or Helichrysum

• Pollinator Benefits:

  • Rich nectar source for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

  • Early summer flowering provides forage during seasonal transitions

• Cut Flower Qualities:

  • Tall, upright stems ideal for vases and floral displays

  • Long-lasting when cut at bud break

  • Adds architectural elegance to summer arrangements

• Propagation and Longevity:

  • Divide clumps or separate corm offsets in autumn or early spring

  • Self-sufficient once established, with gradual clump expansion

  • Long-lived in suitable conditions with good drainage

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally pest- and disease-free

  • Watch for slugs or snails on new shoots

  • Avoid overwatering 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.

You can pay your online order either by credit card or via Paypal.
If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.