PUKUBOOK may be a "Succulent Encyclopedia," but to be honest, we don’t strictly limit our coverage to only succulents—we loosely include many closely related horticultural genres as well (mainly because that’s what most so-called "succulent encyclopedias" and "succulent guidebooks" out there tend to do). Still, if something feels too different from typical succulents, it becomes tough to manage and our content on it ends up pretty thin. Honestly, one of these "genres we just haven't handled well yet" is the Cape Bulbs. To be frank, I barely have any Cape Bulbs at home.
I’m really sorry about that! I need to find ways to increase information about them. That said, there’s no way I, a total beginner, can pretend to talk authoritatively about Cape Bulbs. I figured I should start from scratch and have a pro teach me. But do Cape Bulb experts even exist?
Actually, yes! In Kochi, Japan!!
So, for this "Cape Bulb Special," I went and learned from the real Cape Bulb pros at Erioquest in Kochi.
Erioquest is a grower and producer, specializing in Cape Bulbs and other plants native to South Africa, based in Kochi Prefecture. They raise tens of thousands of plants in a greenhouse they built themselves on their own property. There’s no walk-in physical store (and no direct sales from the greenhouse); instead, you can buy from their official online shop, their Rakuten store, at various garden events, or through specialized partner retailers.
The president, Seitaro Hamada, also goes by "Seitymo" on Erioquest’s YouTube channel. He started the business about seven years ago because of his love for plants. He’s highly active in spreading the word—opening the YouTube channel, among other things. I’ve spotted him at many Kansai plant events, too.
So, it honestly felt like meeting an old friend for the first time. Even as a total beginner, he was incredibly kind and taught me all sorts of things—I can’t thank him enough!
Before diving into more about Cape Bulbs, let’s talk a bit more about what sets Erioquest’s plants apart. If you scroll through the photos below, you’ll start to get a sense, but here are some points that make their selections stand out.
Check the label and you’ll see: it doesn’t just list the plant’s name, but also its place of origin, field number, and even precise details on how it was sourced. This shows they only buy from sources who provide such reliable and detailed information.
Erioquest is especially passionate about preventing environmental damage from “poaching”, and they are committed to sourcing stocks and seeds that aren’t affected by such issues—and, equally importantly, ensuring full traceability for every item.
Take a closer look at those labels: every single one has its own serial number. Seriously—no duplicates, ever! (The latest ones are already up in the 50,000s, meaning they’ve raised and sold over 50,000 plants since founding!)
On their official online shop, every plant is registered and listed by its unique serial number—so you can actually order individual, specific plants.
Just imagine: could you keep track of 50,000 different product types? (Not just 50,000 items, but 50,000 distinct types!) To make this possible, you don’t just need a label printer—you need high-level species management software, a streamlined photo/upload/shop system—the entire operation has to be crazy efficient. President Seitaro programs much of this system himself. So you could say Erioquest is also a "next-generation DX nursery" at heart.
Erioquest grows an incredibly wide variety of plants—but they use just one type of special potting mix for all of them! That’s their own original formula, "Sage’s Soil." They grow everything in it, and the results speak for themselves. (Just between us, they also add MagAmp K fertilizer!)
Cape Bulbs, as a horticultural genre, mostly refers to bulbous plants from South Africa’s Cape Floristic Region. Technically, not all plants grouped as "Cape Bulbs" have bulbs (scaly underground stems called "bulbs"), so it’s a deliberately broad, casual definition. The general features tying them together are something like this:
- They have distinct seasons—with almost no aboveground growth during dormancy, but bursting back to life from scratch during their growing period
- Unlike succulents, their leaves aren’t thick or fleshy
- Their flowers are gorgeous and adorable
In short, they might not look like succulents at all, often with quirky shapes, dazzling flowers, and wild swings in appearance with the seasons! That’s the special joy of growing Cape Bulbs.
By the way, “bulb” in botany is pretty much equivalent to "scaly underground stem"—think onion, with layers of thickened leaves forming a storage organ below ground. There are also “stem tubers” and "tuberous roots"—both sometimes called “bulbs” in gardening, but strictly speaking, they’re not actually the same. And the “valve” in plumbing is a totally different word; “bulb” for a lightbulb comes from its onion-like shape!
So how should you take care of Cape Bulbs? We asked the experts at Erioquest about the most common pitfalls, so you can learn what *not* to do!
This problem affects all seasonal types. Few plants can survive intense, scorching summer sun—including Cape Bulbs. Especially, if the plant’s caudex or bulb is exposed, direct sun can heat up the underground part so much that it literally "melts" inside. As Seitymo-sensei puts it: “They get cooked!”
Here’s how to avoid this: First, provide good shading. At Erioquest, they keep summer-growers under more than 50% shade, and winter-growers under up to 90% shade. Second, water the plants! Watering helps cool the plant through evaporation. But don’t overdo it during the day—too much water can cause rot. Just moisten the soil a little at dawn or after it’s cooled down in the evening.
No matter the seasonal growth pattern, cold damage is a risk. Kochi has a mild climate, so at Erioquest just double-layering the greenhouse plastic is enough; in colder regions, outdoor overwintering may not be possible. Usually, bulbs and caudices are buried in soil—if yours is exposed, treat it as very delicate.
Another common mistake: Even in winter, the caudex can actually overheat under strong, direct sunlight. Don’t let your guard down!
Now, the moment everyone’s been waiting for: some quick introductions to standout species!
Erioquest’s name comes from this genus ("Erio" means "wool," "spermum" refers to "seed"—named for its fluffy, cotton-like seeds). Their strange, tubercled leaves, sometimes with extensions that grow out, give them a unique, mystical look—think "Forest Spirit" vibes!
These classic bulb plants often show up even at non-specialty shops. Their tiger-striped, tough-looking leaves totally contrast with the pretty, hyacinth-like flowers—very charming!
With adorable, curling leaves, these plants are often the stars of "bizarre plant" features!
Most Cape Bulbs used to be classified with lilies (now grouped under Asparagaceae, Hyacinthaceae, etc.), so you’ll see a lot with slender, lily-like leaves and dramatic flower spikes. Still, there are plenty with surprising looks, too!
Another favorite among "bizarre plants" fans—a flower served up on a platter of leaves!
Erioquest doesn’t just grow bulb plants—they also produce many other fascinating species from South Africa.
So that’s our "Cape Bulb Special, Part 1"! For me, this was the start of my Cape Bulb journey, so I focused on species introductions this time. From here, I plan to actually try raising these amazing plants myself, and hope to share what I learn—the joys and the challenges!
Finally, I want to give a huge thanks to Seitaro-san and Ryoma-san at Erioquest for going out of their way to welcome me and answer all my newbie questions, even though it was a "surprise interview" of sorts. I really appreciate your patience, and I hope you’ll continue to guide us in future installments!
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