The Aliens Have Landed

I did a bit of houseplant repotting yesterday afternoon, a chore that is sadly neglected at this time of year in favour of outdoor gardening tasks. But I have a shaky reputation to uphold and had reached the point where I no longer wanted people to come by for a visit should they happen to see the state of my succulents.

I bought this Boweia aka False Sea Onion last Oct while giving a gardening workshop at Ladyfest Guelph. Wherever I go, I always manage to find a plant to purchase. Thankfully I am not allowed to bring plants back over the border when I travel into the U.S or it would be mayhem.

The plant’s ‘greenery’ died back over the winter as predicted and came back to life this spring.
Boweia False Sea Onion

Look at it now! I am often attracted to plants that are like strange alien lifeforms but this succulent is one of the more absurd in my collection.

Boweia False Sea Onion
Boweia aka False Sea Onion. Neither related to the onion or the sea. The greenery dies back to the ‘bulb’ and the plant enters a dormant state.

Gayla Trail
Gayla is a writer, photographer, and former graphic designer with a background in the Fine Arts, cultural criticism, and ecology. She is the author, photographer, and designer of best-selling books on gardening, cooking, and preserving.

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2 thoughts on “The Aliens Have Landed

  1. hi this is not the(Ornithogalum caudatum-) False Sea Onion this plant is (Bowiea volubilis) –
    true sea onion
    cheers shortycub

  2. Not real good yet at this computer thing but trying. Bear with me. I also love alien type houseplants and this one is a favorite! Easy to grow in a sunny window! Need to find a resource for purchasing it as stupidly gave away last one! Any knowledge of a source? I am in Humboldt County, No. Calif. Also any other such knarled, twisted and warped plant suggestions that might be similiar in alien forms would be appreciated!
    Thank’s,Bella

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