Brodiaea Queen Fabiola

Brodiaea are small corms, rather than large rounded bulbs, so their size can be surprising if you are expecting something like a daffodil bulb. They should feel firm and dry, not soft, mouldy or rotten.

Plant Brodiaea in a warm, sheltered position with full sun and light, free-draining soil. They are a good fit for gravel gardens, sunny borders or pots, but are less reliable in cold, exposed or winter-wet ground.

This is normal for Brodiaea. Its narrow foliage often starts to fade as the flower stems develop, leaving the blooms held above the leaves in late spring or early summer.

The usual cause is soil that stays too wet during winter, or a position that is too cold and shaded. Plant corms in autumn at roughly 8 to 10cm deep, give them plenty of sun and improve heavy soil with grit to help water drain away.

Brodiaea are perennial corms and can return each year in a suitable spot. After flowering, allow the foliage to die back naturally, then keep the corms relatively dry while dormant. In colder parts of the UK, pots can be moved somewhere sheltered over winter.