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Definition of watsonia
watsonia
/wɑːtˈsoʊniə/
wat · so · ni · a
Plural:watsonias
watsonia Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
Any perennial plant of the genus Watsonia in the iris family (Iridaceae), native primarily to southern Africa, distinguished by tall, sword-shaped leaves and showy spikes of brightly colored, tubular flowers.
Example
"The horticulturist decided to plant a border of vibrant orange watsonias to add height and late-spring color to the garden."
• Rhymes for watsonia
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 18th century by the Scottish botanist Philip Miller, who named the plant genus in honor of his contemporary, the English physician, scientist, and botanist Sir William Watson (1715–1787).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Watsonia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/watsonia