Haemanthus Multiflorus
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Origin
Tropical & Southern Africa, Yemen
Description
Haemanthus multiflorus, commonly called blood lily, is a bulbous perennial. Each bulb produces 6-7 bright green leaves (to 12-15 long) and one flower head per season. Leaves of Haemanthus are spirally arranged. Mature plants have one, two, four or rarely six leathery, fleshy strap-like, leaves, upright or pressed flat on the ground. The flowers heads consist of tiny flowers clustered in compact umbel-like heads surrounded by coloured bracts and borne on fleshy stems. The flowers produce nectar and have prominent stamens, but only a faint scent. The berry-like fruit vary in colour from white, orange, pink to red and are aromatic
Environment
Scadoxus lily should be planted in a full-sun environment. Spider lilies adapt to many types of soils but prefer well drained soil. They are fairly drought tolerant and require only small amounts of water.
It will bloom in late summer and be around 60-70 cm tall. The leaves remain green all winter long and at the first hint of warm weather the following spring, they will die.
Lycoris resents transplanting and will take a couple of years to re-establish themselves before flowering resumes.
Landscape Use
Best planted in mass for border plantings, a line along a walkway, decorate fence and around an ornamental tree.
Caution
All parts of the plant are poisonous ...
