Albuca spiralis The Frizzle Sizzle Plant

Let’s clear up some confusion.  Over the last 3 or 4 years, these quirky Succulent perennial bulbs have become increasingly popular.  Ten years ago, they were unheard of and only known to niche collectors.  Adorned by many for those wonderfully, unusual corkscrew leaves only to be bowled over by the vanilla scented flower spikes it’s clear to see why they have sustained first place for most talked about plant at every Spring plant fair I have attended!   Their increased popularity and ability to survive on long periods of neglect ensure they are sold by many inexperienced plant sellers under the misleading catchline of ‘easy to care for’!  Whilst this is not entirely untrue, they are in fact, a succulent bulb after all, and therefore require very little in the way of care.  However, there are still some very important contributing factors that will ensure its survival, without this information you are simply playing a game of chance, when in fact, there are only a few simple things you need to do for this beautiful specimen to flower year after year!

The Albuca spiralis is native to South Africa!  What does this mean?  Lots of sun, lots of warmth and again, lots of sun!  The Frizzle Sizzle is only really suitable as an indoor houseplant if you can give them enough light, something worth bearing in mind and rarely mentioned by plant sellers!  A greenhouse or conservatory is ideal, A south facing windowsill would be suffice but full sun is the ticket.   Another important factor to bear in mind, the sales in the UK of the Albuca spiralis typically begin in early spring through to early/mid-summer.  When in fact, mid-summer is in fact their dormant period.  This is where you will begin to see your plants leaves gradually brown and die back, a cue to halt the watering and neglect!    That’s not to say they have a short aesthetic window of attraction.  It simply means they are distributed for sales 50% of the way through they’re peak growing period.  Their growing season actually begins in the winter!  Ideally in a cold, frost free environment, late winter is when you want to begin the watering regime as new life emerges.  

Now, with that said, there is absolutely no harm in keeping a Frizzle Sizzle for a season and enjoying its beauty for what it is.  If you are able to relocate your plant for the winter to ensure next years growth then even better!  If you are unable to do this then consider your plant an annual and avoid disappointment.  Fair enough, they are not cheap, but they are not overly expensive either and when you consider what you could easily spend on fresh cut flowers or a gin and tonic then where’s the harm?