The bizarre scrambling climber, Bowiea volubilis or climbing onion plant is actually in the same family as the hyacinth (Asparagaceae).

The green bulb is native to the Eastern parts of South Africa. In its natural habitat it experiences large contrasts in rainfall and can survive times of drought by storing water. It is a succulent plant and prefers to grow in free draining cacti & succulent compost. It will make an excellent plant for the windowsill and is very easy to look after, as long as you remember to increase water when the new shoots emerge and to water less when the stems start to die back after flowering.

This plant is thought to have magical properties and is used by Zulus in love charms.

Bowea volubilis

Bowea volubilis