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South African Native Plants

Haemanthus coccineus, bulb

21 years ago

Haemanthus coccineus, native to Zimbabwe. Common names, paintbrush lily, blood lily, catherine wheel and April Fool. Flowers in autumn.

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Comments (7)

safariofthemind
21 years ago
Very nice. Just got three of these babies and can't wait to see them bloom. Thanks for the pic. RJ
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Modjadje
21 years ago
Hi Sheila, thanks for posting that glorious picture.
I don't think it grows in Zimbabwe, though, although another Haemanthus species, H. katherinae, does.

H. coccineus is found widely distributed in the winter-rainfall area of South Africa, in the Western Cape Province and north into Namibia, and east beyond Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape Province as far as the Keiskamma river valley.
The Haemanthus species which does grow in Zimbabwe is H. katherinae which range includes the Eastern Province, Natal, Swaziland, the eastern Transvaal and Zimbabwe. It is one of the most handsome of the species and the most widely known because it was grown in Europe in the late 1800s, usually as a pot plant.
H. katherinae is dormant in the winter, whereas H. coccinae is dormant during the summer.

RJ, I read on the web that they grow easily from seed ... you have now inspired me to also grow some, if they take I'll keep them potted. Happy growing! Delina
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I keep my albiflos in my chilly kitchen where it's getting less light during (northern hemisphere) winter than before. Water is reduced, and the plant has 4 rather large leaves, so it doesn't look unhappy. I forget when these flower, but it's overdue for repotting regardless...maybe repotting sooner is better? I also have a couple of h. coccineus that I bought last year--nothing from them either, but I think they're spring bloomers, and the bulbs, now dormant, may be too small at 1.25" diameter. Definitely in need of repotting. (Would you believe I finally found a boophone seed source!?) --Rr
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Loved the post kaboehm!!! I'm one of the funny ones that for the most part likes the leaves of many things.....on the odd occasion I get a flower I am excited, but the weird, above-ground (in some cases) bulbs with the glaucous or twisted leaves I love every day......Haemanthus montanus has beautiful leaves that have a slight twist to them.....like the Nerine krigeii, but much larger......usually just 2-3 leaves on the Haemanthus though. Here is one of mine from this spring: I did not take pics of any of the ones blooming now :o) Dan
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sheila_perth
Original Author
21 years ago
Hi Delina, H. multiflorus ssp. Katherinae is now Scadoxus multiflorus ssp.Katherinae. I grow this too, will post a pic, as you say it is very handsome.
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Modjadje
21 years ago
Hi Sheila, your garden must be breathtakingly beautiful and your climate very kind ... wish i could see it! Thanks for sharing the info, i was not aware, my book is pretty old. Delina
P.S. I noticed on the Bulb forum that RJ is asking about Chilean bulbs ... where are the leucocorynes from?
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sheila_perth
Original Author
21 years ago
From Chile! I havn't looked in the bulb forum for so long, I'll go now.
Leucocoryne are my favourite bulbs.
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safariofthemind
21 years ago
Thanks you all. Appreciate it. I didn't want to post off topic stuff here. RJ
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beverley_higgins_yahoo_com_au
13 years ago
l have a patch of the subject bulbs they are spectacular at the moment the flowers are almost all up and l love the huge lush leaves that come up after the flowers have died off l was told they are quite rare is this true? cheers bev
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