The Babiana might be named after the Baboon or Baviaan, a South African primate which loves to eat its bulbs. However, there’s little monkey or ape-like about the pretty flowers the Babiana presents. The Babiana genus has about 80 species of differing size and which have varying blooming times. All Babianas produce delightful spikes of colourful funnel-shaped blooms which could bring to mind a less rigid form of gladiolus. Babiana bulbs like full sun and well-draining soil, in return for which they will flourish in the garden, along paths, in clumps, or in containers and provide you with colourful and fragrant blooms in a range of colours from red, pink or cream to violet blue. Babianas make long-lasting cut flowers.