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Perennials & Annuals - Australia

Pin cushion plant???

19 years ago

Last year some folks gave me a plant - I think they referred to it as a pin cushion plant. It kind of looks like that. Over winter it died off and I thought it was gone, but I have just noticed it has remergered with two "offshoots". From memory, it looked like a cross between a hippeastrum and a strelitzia (spelling ?). It had a stem and then a round reddish flower with a ball of 'spikes'. Can anyone help with ID for this plant and since it is just coming above ground, can I lift it now and pot it because we are about to move house. Can I lift a strelitzia also?

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Comments (4)

Anna_B
19 years ago
My first thoughts were either one of the hakeas (which has flowers like a pin-cushion) or scabiosa; however, reading on I realised from your description that it was neither of these.

A check on google came up with the link below. Could this be it?

Another site which might be of interest is:

www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatenedpublications/pincushion-lily.html.

Sorry, I can't help with the strelitzia.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pin-Cushion
Anna_B
19 years ago
The second link has been typed incorrectly. Below it has been corrected:

Here is a link that might be useful: Pin-Cushion 2
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danielkemp
Original Author
19 years ago
Thanks Anna. I looked up those sites and I know it is not the first because of pictures and it seems probably not the second from the text. Appreciate your help though.
kuranda
19 years ago
I think you are looking at Scadoxus multiflorus syn.Haemanthus katherinae (Amaryllidacae), a South African bulb dying down in winter and characterised by ball of small red/orange flowers - bit like a pin cushion. Of easy culture. Should be no worry in potting up ASAP and taking with you - likes feeding in growth, drier when dormant. Best of luck with move!

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