“Queen Fabiola” brodiaea (Brodiaea laxa “Queen Fabiola”) is commonly known as the triplet lily or wild hyacinth. This perennial bulb is a native wildflower to California, growing wild in evergreen woodlands. Grass-like leaves appear first, followed by clusters of light blue blossoms reaching 15 to 20 inches tall and appearing in the late spring. Triplet lilies grow best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 10. Fall is the best time to plant these bulbs in flower beds and rock gardens.
Choose a planting area with full sun exposure, and remove all the weeds and grass from it. These perennials grow best in the warmest area of the garden. Do not plant these bulbs in areas that drain slowly, developing puddles during rain storms.
Loosen the soil to the depth of 6 inches with a shovel. Remove any rocks and break up dirt clumps. Rake the surface smooth and level. Dig a hole with a trowel 5 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Use a tape measure to determine the proper depth.
Place the bulbs in the hole with the root end pointed downward. Plant the bulbs in clusters, keeping each bulb 4 inches apart. Nine to 10 bulbs fit inside a hole this size. Fill the hole in with soil and do not pack the soil down. Water the soil to a depth of 5 inches.
Spread a 2-inch layer of organic mulch like pine straw over the planting area if temperatures during the winter will reach freezing. This layer will protect the bulbs by limiting the exposure of the soil to temperature extremes. In areas without cold winters, mulch is not necessary.
Things You Will Need
- Tape measure
- Organic mulch