The genus Bulbine is placed in the Asphodelaceae family and comprises more or less 73 species occurring in Africa and Australia. In southern Africa you will find 67 species, of which 62 are indigenous to South Africa, whereas only six species are found in Australia. Of the southern African species only five extend into tropical Africa. The genus is consequently considered to be a southern African entity. The genus is characterized by water-wise succulent plants with lax or compound racemes (flowers borne on stalks along an unbranched axis, lower ones opening first) of mostly yellow (very rarely white, orange or pink) flowers with bearded stamens. It is closely related to Bulbinella but has flowers that are “bearded” with hairy stamens. Many Bulbine species have medicinal uses too.

Bulbine capitata, synonymously known as Bulbine asphodeloides var. otaviensis, Bulbine lydenburgenis, Bulbine otaviensis or Bulbine stenophylla and commonly known as Scented Grass-bulbine or Narrow-leaved Bulbine, is a South African indigenous species found in the Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West provinces. That striking, luminous yellow flower showing off in the grasslands during spring is the beautiful Bulbine capitata, a perennial herb with slender, grass-like leaves and compact inflorescences of bearded, rich daffodil-yellow, sweetly scented flowers. The genus Bulbine is known for its traditional medicinal use, the fleshy leaves used to treat aliments such as skin diseases and burns, and the roots used to treat diarrhoea and sexually transmitted diseases. Bulbine capitata can also be used successfully in horticulture as a filler plant or groundcover, mass planted to show its beautiful yellow flowers to their best effect. This is a beautiful, sun-loving plant that can be planted in rock gardens, grassland gardens and waterwise gardens.