Orange Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens ‘Hallmark’) is a tough, cheerful little succulent perennial that flowers almost nonstop. Slender, grass-like, fleshy green leaves form a low, spreading clump, and wiry stalks rise above the foliage carrying clusters of star-shaped orange flowers accented with frilly, fuzzy yellow stamens. Blooming from spring through fall, and nearly year-round in mild climates, Orange Bulbine is a water-wise workhorse that brings warm color and pollinators to borders, rock gardens, and containers with almost no effort.

Why Grow Orange Bulbine?

Months of color – cheerful orange star flowers from spring through fall, often year-round where winters are mild.
Tough & water-wise – a true succulent that is exceptionally drought-, heat-, and salt-tolerant once established.
Pollinator-friendly – also a draw for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.
Well-behaved – the ‘Hallmark’ cultivar is sterile, so it will not self-seed all over the garden, and deer leave it alone too.
Handy burn jelly plant – especially useful, since the leaf gel has long been applied topically, like aloe, to soothe minor skin irritations.

Looking for more flowering color and groundcovers? Browse our Flowering Plants and Groundcovers & Border Plants collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

Botanical name: Bulbine frutescens ‘Hallmark’ (orange bulbine, snake flower, cat’s tail, burn jelly plant)
Plant type: Evergreen, clumping succulent perennial (grass-like foliage)
Plant family: Asphodelaceae (the aloe family)
Mature size: about 1–2 feet tall and spreading 2 feet or more wide
Flowers: Star-shaped orange flowers with frilly yellow stamens, spring through fall (year-round in mild climates)
Foliage: Slender, fleshy, grass-like green leaves in a spreading clump
Notable traits: Very drought-, heat-, and salt-tolerant; deer-resistant; pollinator-friendly; sterile and non-seeding
Cold Hardiness Zones: 8–11

Orange Bulbine Care & Growing Guide

This is one of the easiest, most forgiving plants you can grow. Follow these guidelines:

Sunlight: Full sun for the heaviest bloom. However, it also takes light to partial shade.
Water: Water regularly to establish a strong root system, then only occasionally, since as a succulent it is very drought-tolerant and prefers to stay on the dry side. However, avoid overwatering.
Soil: Adapts to most soils as long as drainage is good, though it prefers dry, well-drained ground and will rot in soggy soil.
Cold Hardiness Zone: 8–11. The foliage is evergreen in mild climates. However, in colder spots it can be cut back by frost and resprout from the roots.
Grooming: Prune or pull old, tired foliage to keep it neat. In addition, deadheading spent stalks encourages even more flowers, though it is not required.

Good to know: bulbine is non-toxic and is best known as a topical first-aid plant, since the leaf gel is applied to the skin to soothe minor burns, bites, and rashes. Importantly, it is used on the skin only, not eaten.

Ways to Use Orange Bulbine in the Landscape

This water-wise bloomer thrives in hot, sunny, low-water spots. Popular uses for Orange Bulbine include:

Front-of-border color and edging
Also mass plantings and difficult, sunny slopes
Rock gardens, xeriscapes, and water-wise gardens
Similarly, containers, planters, and poolside beds
Pollinator and Mediterranean-style gardens

It pairs beautifully with other tough, sun-loving perennials. For example, gardeners often combine it with Society Garlic, the cheerful Dune Sunflower, or the golden Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut groundcover.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Orange Bulbine starter plants, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. Each plant is less than 12 inches tall when we ship it. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. That way, you can see how yours will look as they grow and bloom. Finally, choose your preferred bundle size using the options above.

Also, due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees where necessary to comply.

Ordering, Shipping & Returns

Every order ships free and is insured against loss or damage in transit. For full details on how we pack and send your plants, processing and delivery times, and what to do in the rare case of a problem, please review our Shipping Policy and Terms & Conditions before purchasing. By placing an order, you agree to those terms.

Orange Bulbine FAQ

Growing & Care Questions

What is Orange Bulbine?

It is a tough, cheerful succulent perennial, Bulbine frutescens Hallmark, that flowers almost nonstop. Notably, wiry stalks rise above slender, grass-like leaves carrying clusters of star-shaped orange flowers with frilly, fuzzy yellow stamens.

When does Orange Bulbine bloom?

It blooms generously from spring through fall, and nearly year-round in mild climates. As a result, it brings warm orange color to the garden for many months with almost no effort.

How big does it get?

It stays low and spreading, about 1 to 2 feet tall and 2 feet or more wide. As a result, it works beautifully as front-of-border color, edging, or a tough groundcover on sunny slopes.

How far apart should I plant it?

For a full drift or groundcover effect, space plants about 18 to 24 inches apart. Because it spreads into clumps, that spacing lets the plants knit together over time.

Does Orange Bulbine self-seed or spread aggressively?

No, and that is a nice advantage. The Hallmark cultivar is sterile, so it will not self-seed all over the garden. In addition, deer tend to leave it alone.

Uses, Hardiness & Shipping Questions

How much sun and water does it need?

Full sun gives the heaviest bloom, though it also takes light to partial shade. As a succulent, it is very drought-tolerant, so water only occasionally once established. However, avoid overwatering, which can rot it.

What growing zones is it suited for?

It is hardy in USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 8 to 11. In mild climates the foliage stays evergreen. However, in colder spots it can be cut back by frost and then resprout from the roots.

How do I keep Orange Bulbine looking neat?

Prune or pull old, tired foliage to keep it tidy. In addition, deadheading spent stalks encourages even more flowers, though it is not required.

Is Orange Bulbine safe, and what is the burn jelly use?

Good news: bulbine is non-toxic. In fact, it is best known as a topical first-aid plant, since the leaf gel is applied to the skin, like aloe, to soothe minor burns, bites, and rashes. Importantly, it is used on the skin only, not eaten.

What size plants will I receive?

You will receive live Orange Bulbine starter plants. Each one is under 12 inches tall at shipping, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. So you can see how yours will look as they grow and bloom. Finally, choose your bundle size using the options above.

Bulbine frutescens 'Hallmark' orange star-shaped flowers with yellow stamens

Click to enlarge

Bulbine Hallmark Orange grass-like succulent foliage and orange blooms

Orange bulbine frutescens flowering groundcover

Bulbine Hallmark Orange flowers close-up

Carlos Plant Farm

Bulbine ‘Hallmark’ Orange – Bulbine frutescens (Orange Bulbine, Live Starter Plants)

Price range: $33.79 through $178.32

Add easy, long-lasting color with live Orange Bulbine (Bulbine frutescens ‘Hallmark’). This tough, grass-like succulent perennial sends up wiry stalks of star-shaped orange flowers with frilly yellow stamens from spring through fall — nearly year-round in mild climates. Exceptionally drought-, heat-, and salt-tolerant, deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, and sterile (so it won’t self-seed). The leaf gel is even used like aloe to soothe minor skin irritations. Shipped as a healthy live starter plant (under 12 inches tall) by Carlos Plant Farm. Cold hardy in USDA zones 8–11.

Plant Bundle

Clear