We love plants that bring a smile to our faces, and this one certainly does. ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ (albuca spiralis) is an easy to grow and easy to care for houseplant with the most fascinating foliage.
What makes this plant so fun and unique is a tight cluster of dark green, spiraling leaves that grow from a large bulb. It’s impossible not to play with those attractive corkscrews! It’s unlike any houseplant you’ve had before.
Where to Find a Frizzle Sizzle Plant
Some growers have found potted ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ plants at their local garden centers, so check there first. No luck? There are nurseries, garden centers, even Etsy vendors who sell ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ online, either in seed form or as live bulbs. Starting a ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ from seed will, of course, require a longer wait for the payoff of the curly foliage, but the seeds do germinate easily.
Here are the places we like to buy seeds online.
Tips for Frizzle Sizzle Care
The ideal growing conditions for ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ are much like those of a succulent plant. The soil should drain well, so use a potting mix designed for cacti and succulents. Choose a pot that’s only an inch or two larger than the size of the bulb. It won’t need repotting for a year or more.
Place your ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ in a spot that receives lots of light, like a south-facing window; five to seven hours of light per day is best. To help with this, you can give your plant some time under a grow light as well.
If the leaves of the plant aren’t curling, it’s likely a sign that you’re overwatering. Once every seven to 10 days is all the water your ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ needs. Summertime is a dormant period for this plant, an adaptation that helps it survive the hot season in its native landscape of South Africa. Your ‘Frizzle Sizzle’ will need even less water during this time, and the leaves may die back. However, come fall, the plant will revive and begin to replenish its curly leaves.
Frizzle Sizzle Flowers
This curly-leafed plant has flower stalks that grow 12 to 24 inches high, and with drooping, creamy yellow flowers that have a gorgeous scent of vanilla. While flowering, the tips of the curly leaves will begin to brown. You can pinch these dried bits away, or to prevent browning altogether, remove the flower stalks when they first emerge. This allows the plant to keep all its energy in the foliage.
Albuca Concordiana: The RARE Version You Need
This genus has another, very cute variety known as Albuca Corcordiana. It has flat leaves that grow in a twist, like upright ribbon curls or egg noodles! This rarer variant can also be purchased, as seeds, from plant sites like Plant Valley or sellers on eBay and Etsy.
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Nancy Mock