Description
This has from two to six flat leaves spread on the ground and later a large and spectacular spherical head of 20-40 blooms (rarely up to 80).
Each individual flower is large, bright vivid red, with red anthers and reflexing petals, on a 20 cm pedicel, the whole looking like a huge kind of ball-headed, Christmas cactus.
Found over a large area of South Africa but never common. This is a lover of sandy soils in the wild. In cultivation this likes well drained soils also but it is judged to be one of the easiest to grow and flower.
Full sun, dry in the summer, watered in the winter and lots of patience as it settles down.
Picture © Denis Tsang, used with permission.
