Blood Lily

Background And Growing Requirements Of The South African Blood Lily

The shade loving scadoxus multiflorus, or haemanthus katherinae blub is commonly called a blood lily, named for the dark red stain on its white blub. Other common names include torch, powder puff, and fireball lily. Originated in South Africa, it is very similar to the Amaryllis, and must live in topical zones or as a houseplant. This lily grows randomly in South Africa in shade along the riverbanks.

A blood lily is toxic if eaten, because of a chemical called lycorine. It is referred to in some regions as a killer plant. The scadoxus multiflorus can kill small grazing animals; the poison substance was used in Africa to kill game and spear fish. If a large amount is ingested it will kill a human being.

It features wavy leaves over 12 inches long and coral colored flowers with numerous tiny stamens, giving it the appearance of a round version of the bottle brush. Once a year, clusters of flowers with threadlike protrusions make up the beautiful flower balls of about 10 inches across. They look like an exposition of fireworks, on stems that can be a much as 2 feet tall. One plant will have less than 10 of these big blooms. The blooms live up to 2 weeks, and make a fabulous cut flower.

How to grow:

Temperatures at night should not go below 55 degrees, and around 70 degrees in the daytime.
Plant in a pot that allows at least 2 inches of space all around the blub; allow the bulb tip to protrude out of the potting mix.
Needs deep or part shade depending on high temperatures in the region.
Soil: should be a light potting mix with high proportion of rotted material or compost
May be several years before first blooming
Feed regularly with a liquid plant food designed for blubs
Give your blood lily indirect but bright light and water regularly. Fertilize monthly during growing and flowering phase. Once flowering ceases, decrease water and eventually stop. Place it in a cool spot and let it dry out.
Bring it out the following year and add some new potting mix on top. Don’t transfer to another pot. If desired you may shake loose soil off the blub and add fresh soil.
Blood lily can be grown in a greenhouse or outdoors, or as a houseplant. It just depends on your region. Remember, this is a tropical plant.

In the US some choice locals for blood lilies are Florida and Hawaii, where they have even been known to just arrive in the yard. They can be easily propagated, and in Hawaii it is not uncommon to see a yard with 100s of these plants growing, creating a gorgeous red blanket of color.

Although it has been mentioned that these plants are toxic, fortunately pets have an intuitive sense of what to eat and not to eat. If poisoning is still a concern, for instance if you have toddlers, place the plant where it cannot be reached.