The genus Babiana is endemic to southern Africa and comprises about 70 species, most of which are indigenous to South Africa where they can be found growing naturally in the south-western and western parts of the Western Cape, and in Namaqualand. The corms of several Babiana species are known to be edible and have been eaten by indigenous peoples in the northern parts of South Africa for ages. The genus name Babiana is derived from the Dutch word, baviaantje, which means little baboon, and refers to observations made by early colonists at the Cape of Good Hope, who witnessed that baboons commonly ate the corms of this genus. They are just about all winter-growing and generally bloom in late winter and spring. The extraordinary diversity in flower shape and colour, from long and tubular to broadly cup-shaped, and from pure white through countless shades of yellow to blue, pink, mauve, purple and crimson, have endeared babianas to gardeners around the world. Many of the species in this genus have a deliciously spicy sweet-smelling scent. They do well planted along with Aloes that share the same growth cycle.

Babiana montana, commonly known as Agulhas Bobbejaantjie in Afrikaans and Agulhas Baboon Flower in English, is an endangered South African endemic perennial geophyte found in the Western Cape from Caledon to De Hoop Nature Reserve growing amongst fynbos on sandstone and limestone slopes. It has hairy green leaves and purple flowers in winter and spring. It grows wild in fynbos and renosterveld and also does well planted in grassy and rocky places. Babiana montana is a small plant, 60-70 mm tall. The leaves are lance-shaped, pleated and hairy. Babiana montana is a drought tolerant plant, its leaves die back after flowering and the plant becomes dormant during summer, in this way it survives the hot, dry summers of its winter-rainfall habitat. Babiana montana is best for containers or rockeries, and being a small plant, it is best interplanted with similarly short plants so that it does not become overshadowed. Although Babiana montana corms are eaten by baboons, they are not suitable for human consumption.