With fascinating flowers that are best described as looking like a paintbrush, Haemanthus, follow up with some fairly exotic foliage as well. Easy to grow in a well drained soil they make a great feature plant in garden or container.
An interesting genus from South Africa Haemanathus have large foliage and many have colourful and large flowers.
Haemanthus Description
Grown for the foliage as well as the flowers Haemanthus do come from different climate zones, most from areas of winter rain, a few from areas of summer rain, so growing conditions and care do differ.
Most species are deciduous although some such as H. deformis are evergreen.
Characterised by large bulbs and thick fleshy roots, most bulbs will only produce two leaves, some more. The leaves can be either flat against the soil, or slightly upright in habit.
Flowering varies with most species flowering in summer, H.coccineus is an exception flowering in autumn/fall.
Flowers are reminiscent of a brush head, colour varies, red , yellow and white species.
Growing Conditions
Most gardeners grow Haemanthus in containers, which gives them some control of watering. They can also look great grown in rock garden situation.
None of the species will grow outdoors in cold climate zones and none will survive heavy frosts or freezes.
Although in most climate zones they are best grown in a pot, in warmer frost free zones they are worth a try in the rock garden, a free draining potting mix is best and try not to over water. During dormancy do not water the bulbs at all. H. albiflos, is probably the easiest to grow followed by H. coccineus.
H. carneus is more difficult to find than some other species, preferring part shade it has a looser flower head than other species with a pink flower. Look for H. albiflos, H. barkerae, H. humilis, H. humilis ssp. Hirsutus, H. montanus, H. paucifolius and H. sanguineus
Haemanthus species include:
- H. albiflos
H. amarylloides
H. avasmontanus
H. barkerae
H. canaliculatus
H. carneus
H. coccineus.
H. crispus
- H. dasyphyllus
H. deformis
H. graniticus
H. humilis
H. lanceifolius
H. montanus
H. namaquensis
H. nortieri
- H. pauculifolius
H. pubescens
H. pumilio
H. sanguineus
H. tristis
H. unifoliatus
Haemanthus bulbs are available for sale form the following nurseries
412 James Lane, Fern Hill VIC. 3458 - Phone 0419002651
Large range of Rare plants, Climbers, Bulbs, Perennials Fruit Trees, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs. Available both Retail and by Mail Order
www.whitehousenursery.com.au
PO Box 7040 Leura NSW 2780
Rare woodland plants, Trilliums Epimediums, Arisaemas, plus much more.www.lynnsrareplants.com.au