This is a small genus from South Africa and New Zealand, with fleshy, linear leaves and dense racemes of starry, bright yellow flowers. They have been completely hardy with us in Scotland, but if in doubt, apply a winter mulch of leaf mould to provide some extra protection. The New Zealand ones, which are those most commonly cultivated in the UK, and known locally as Maori onions.

Bulbinella angustifolia is a New Zealand species with even narrower leaves that the more widely grown Bulbinella hookeri. It likes similar damp conditions. It has dark green leaves, brown on the edges, and spikes packed with masses of starry, six-petalled, bright yellow flowers.