Outstanding displays are not unusual in southern California gardens. But, last fall, I saw a breathtaking sight that stands out so vividly in my mind that it will not soon be forgotten.
It was a magnificent outdoor planting of the blood lily, Haemanthus katherinae.
Under an old, wide-branching oak some distance away, I spied great globes of orange lifting their heads a foot or more above a sea of brilliant apple green.
As I drew near, the globes were defined as superb flower umbels of varying sizes, 6” to 9” inches in diameter.
Each was covered with 6-petaled, coral-colored florets bearing long stamens tipped in vivid orange.
Haemanthus Katherinae’s Features
The umbels rose from the mass of foliage at intervals from 18” inches to 3 1/2′ feet.
Each individual floret is exquisite in detail and would furnish good corsage material for several days.
A few of these may be picked without destroying the effect of the entire flower head. I picked two and laid them on my desk, where they remained fresh, without water, for three days.
Leaf Spread
The supporting leaf spread was extremely interesting. It grew fanwise from each stalk, flaring beneath the flower head.
A large specimen plant sometimes has a leaf spread 40” inches across, while small umbels may be accompanied by an expanse of foliage that measures only 18” inches.
Growing Haemanthus Katherinae
Haemanthus katherinae is a very recent introduction from South Africa. It grows from seed and forms a large bulb.
Seedlings will flower in 3 to 4 years, and a bulb will develop as many as five offsets in two years.
The plant stays green for three-quarters of the year, going into a dormant state in winter.
At that time, it should not be dried out entirely. Largo plantings of these blood lilies have two flowering periods.
Although one bulb will not bloom more than once in a season, some blossom in June and others not until August or September.
Shady Place: Outdoors
The ideal situation for them is a shady place out-of-doors, in a frost-free location, where they will have rich soil.
These bulbs have also grown and flowered successfully in 8”- to 10”-inch pots in patios and sheltered outdoor living rooms, while in the north, they are handled as window plants.
44659 by Mildred Selfridge Orpet