| Botanical Name |
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| Family |
Amaryllidaceae - The amaryllis family. |
| Pronunciation |
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| Common Name(s) |
Paintbrush lily; Rooikwas; umphompho wezinja (Xhosa); isisphompho, umgola (Zulu) |
| Plant Group |
- Bulb / Corm / Rhizome / Tuber / Epigeal bulb Bulbs: are made up of fleshy scales as in an onion
Corm: a short, swollen, underground stem that is hard and not fleshy as in a gladiolus
Tuber: a solid, fleshy, underground, storage organ as in a potato
Rhizome: an underground, horizontal, swollen stem at the base of the plant as in an iris
Epigeal bulb: bulbs that rest above the ground with only the roots anchoring the plant to the earth as in albuca
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| Plant Size |
- Medium
| Tree | 10m to 16m |
| Shrub | 1m to 2m |
| Perennial/ground cover | 40cm to 60cm |
| Bulb | 40cm to 60cm |
| Succulent | 40cm to 60cm |
|
| Position |
- Canopy Shade Canopy shade is found below closely grown trees where some light filters through. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
- Deep / Full Shade Shade below spreading evergreen trees where sun's rays are unable to penetrate the canopy at any time. For light sensitive plants
- Light or Dappled Shade Found below trees with sparse, open foliage. Ideal for the protection of herbaceous plants.
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| General Information |
- Attractive fruits, berries or seeds Brightly coloured fruits or berries increase and extend the visual impact of the plant and are especially attractive to birds and other small wildlife.
- Deciduous Plants which completely lose their foliage for part of the year.
- Drought Tolerance: High The plant is well adapted to arid conditions; it can survive long periods of drought and high temperatures without extra water.
- Frost: Tender A plant that will not survive any frost or low winter temperatures.
- Water Moderate These plants will need some extra watering compared to water-wise plants. Plant them together, in at least some shade and in a convenient proximity to the house so that grey water can be utilised during times of drought.
|
| Specific Information |
Lush looking attractive leaves.
This bulb is poisonous and deaths have resulted from the ingestion of it. |
| Flowers |
| Description |
large dense head to 15cm across |
| Season |
- Spring to Summer Plants will seldom bloom for the entire season as given in the list, but should flower during a period within these parameters.
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| Colour |
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| Growth Rate |
- Slow Specifying growth rate can be very misleading as there is considerable variation of growth rate depending on type and species of plant, available water, supplementary feeding, mulching and general care, as well as the plants suitability and adaptability to the garden environment.
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| Plant Uses |
- Accent or Focal Point A plant used to attract the attention because of its colour or form.
- Attracts bees and other insects This plant attracts insects which can be food for birds or other creatures in your garden.
- Attracts Birds This plant will attract birds.
- Container Trees, shrubs and ornamental species that can adapt to growing in a restricted environment.
- Filler Either a fast growing tree or shrub used temporarily to fill in an area while the permanent plants grow to a desired size, or a plant used to fill gaps in borders or beds.
- Pot Plant A plant that needs a protected environment on a patio or indoors.
- Suitable for coastal gardens Plants adapted to dry, sandy soil, forceful wind, limited rainfall and intense sunlight.
- Water Features These plants may have dramatic, lush foliage or graceful form. They do not shed excessive leaves and do not have invasive root systems.
- Wild Garden An indigenous garden planted for the benefit of wildlife and birds. Provides food, water, a variety of mini-biomes and no poisonous chemicals are used.
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| Ad Break |
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| Distribution |
in the northern provinces, the Free State, KwaZulu Natal and the Eastern Cape, in coastal bush, ravines and forest |
| Planting Suggestions |
Plant in composted, well drained soil in a shady position. Do not move or disturb the bulb unnecessarily for a few years as flowering may be affected.
Water regularly in summer and keep reasonably dry in winter. |
| Medicinal Uses |
Despite its toxicity, this bulb is used to treat coughs and gastro-intestinal problems and as part of a mixture taken during pregnancy to ensure a safe delivery. |
| Availability |
- Available The plant is currently available at our nursery.
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Comments
growing
Will these bulbs the weather in nc
Scadoxus in the Northern Cape Province
Hi ma stewart
I can't give you a definite answer, but here are my thoughts.
It is unlikely that Scadoxus will thrive in the heat of your area if planted in the ground. You could try them out in a large pot or container, kept in a cool environment as a house plant, or in a shady spot on a patio or verandah. I assume the air is very dry where you live and the plant will benefit from a regular mist spray of water during its growing period. These plants do not like being disturbed, so you will have to wait a season or two before it will flower.
Hope this is of some help.
Lorraine
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