Haemanthus

The old genus Haemanthus is split into true Haemanthus, listed here, and the related Scadoxus.
The house plant “Haemanthus multiflorus“, is in fact Scadoxus multiflorus giving many people the wrong idea of what a real Haemanthus actually looks like.

Haemanthus is widespread in Southern Africa and it occupies many habitats. General cultivation is under glass and frost-free, Pot them in a well-drained, sandy or gravelly soil, which contains some humus. Feed well and keep them growing when they want to be in leaf. Dry them off when they start to enter dormancy. Usually this means dry or drier in the summer, resuming watering around September time, when they will flower. Give water as needed in October but as temperatures and light levels fall, so give progressively less during winter, when they are just ticking over. Increase watering in spring. Make sure that as many waterings as possible incorporate feeding.

This regime accommodates the desert and arid-land species but may not be ideal for the moister-growing types or wintergreen types which like to be dry in summer! Experimentation and more extensive reading may be needed to ideally suit all of the species.

Many Haemanthus are severely restricted in the wild and some are under intense pressure from Agriculture. Although some of ours are imported from South African nurseries, all are cultivated, nursery-raised plants.

Available for ordering from both our Autumn and Spring lists.