Haemanthus albiflos

Family

Amaryllidaceae

Origin

Tropical & Southern Africa, Yemen

Description

Haemanthus Albiflos is an evergreen bulbous perennial to 30cm, with spreading, broad, strap-shaped hairy leaves and brush-like clusters to 10cm across, of small white flowers held within broad greenish-white bracts, and sometimes followed by orange-red berries

The flower head (known as an umbel in botanical terms) is compact, usually about 30-50 mm wide, and consists of numerous erect, narrow white flowers, enclosed by several broad, greenish-white bracts. The erect stamens protrude conspicuously beyond the tips of the flowers and their anthers turn bright yellow or orange when ripe. The ripe fruit is a most attractive bright orange or red fleshy berry producing a distinctive musty odour.

Environment

Haemanthus 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 ...