Blood lily, botanically named Scadoxus multiflorus (ska-DOKS-us mul-tih-FLOR-us), is a bulbous herb belonging to the genus Scadoxus and from the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae.
It’s formerly known as Haemanthus multiflorus, initially described in 1795 by Thomas Martyn, an English botanist.
In 1838, the Haemanthus multiflorus was moved by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque to a new genus Scadoxus, giving it its present botanical name Scadoxus multiflorus.
Still, it was only until 1976 that most people carried the separation when Ib Friis and Inger Nordal, both professors of botany, set apart of the two genera again.
This bulbous perennial is native to tropical or subtropical regions of South Africa (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland), to most sub-Saharan Africa (Senegal to Somalia), and Arabian Peninsula (Oman, Saudi Arabia, Yemen).
Blood lily is an attention-grabbing bulbous plant because of its flashy, red spherical flower heads consisting of red star-shaped florets or tiny flowers with yellow-tipped stamens.
These blood lily blossoms are attractive to butterflies, bees, and birds.
Blood lily also goes by several common names, including:
- African Blood Lily
- Fireball Lily
- Football lily
- Katherine-wheel
- Oxtongue lily
- Paintbrush lily
- Powderpuff lily
It’s also sometimes known as Katherine’s torch lily because it’s from the subspecies katherinae.
The bloody lily name also references the plant’s bulbs which look like blood had dripped on the sides.
Quick Facts On Bloody Lily
- Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Light: Bright, indirect sunlight/partial shade
- Temperature: 50° to 60° degrees Fahrenheit
- Water: Moist but well-drained soil
- Fertilizer: Balanced fertilizer or Water-soluble fertilizer
- Propagation: Through seeds or offsets
- Common Problems: Mealybugs and Spidermites
Blood Lily Care
How Big Does Blood Lilies Grow?
Blood lilies may reach up from 18″ to 24 inches tall with a spread of about 15″ inches once they hit maturity.
When Does Blood Lily Flower? Are The Flowers Fragrant?
Blood lilies are show-stopper plants that produce striking, red spherical umbel inflorescences or clusters of flowers that look like fireballs or red fireworks, hence the common name fireball lily.
Each spherical flower head of blood lilies is directly produced from the bulb.
The spherical umbels consist of hundreds of red florets or tiny flowers with yellow-tipped stamens borne at the top of the tall, smooth stalks with no foliage about 12″ to 18″ inches tall.
A blood lily’s flower stem is a pseudostem or false stem made up of tightly packed overlapping leaf sheath layers, often covered or sprinkled with reddish-brown to dark violet spots.
After flowering, blood lilies produce a rosette of dark green semi-succulent leaves rising atop the leafless, speckled stems.
They also produce oval-shaped berries in the fall, commonly bright orange to red.
The flowering period of blood lilies typically occurs in late spring and early summer, showing off their spectacular blossoms and lasts for 3 to 4 months.
Their flowers do not exhibit any fragrance, and they also lose their leaves at the end of their blooming season.
What Are The Lighting Needs And Temperature Requirements?
Blood lilies thrive in full sun, bright, indirect light, or dappled shade with about 2 to 6 hours of direct sunlight only on parts of the day.
However, don’t overexpose them in the full sun because they can’t handle the extreme sun well.
Since blood lilies are tropical plants, they prefer warm climate conditions and grow best in places with temperatures ranging from 50° to 60° degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
They would not also tolerate extreme frost or freezing weather with temperatures below 30° degrees Fahrenheit.
In addition, blood lilies are reliably hardy, meaning they grow in USDA plant hardiness zones 9 through 11.
The ideal humidity for blood lily is medium to high range, and if kept indoors, it’s best to mist the plant or place it on a tray with pebbles to increase humidity.
How And When To Water And Fertilize Blood Lily?
Blood lily plants are low-maintenance plants and only require moderate watering needs.
It would be best if you water them consistently to keep the soil marginally moist during their growing season and cut off regular watering once the plants enter dormancy to avoid overwatering.
You may increase watering once the spring arrives and the plants start to grow again.
Fertilize blood lilies with a light application of a balanced fertilizer or water-soluble fertilizer every two weeks during their growing season to boost healthy growth and blooming.
When the blood lilies become dormant, stop fertilizing, and fertilize again after the dormancy period.
What Is The Best Soil For Blood Lily, And When Should You Transplant?
Blood lily plants are best grown in rich, well-drained soil and also prefer loamy or sandy soil with a humus-rich balance of nutrients.
A rich potting soil mixed with sand also works well for potted blood lily plants.
Make sure the pots have excellent drainage for healthy plant growth.
Moreover, blood lily plants are best left alone to thrive and blossom, so regular repotting is not required.
But if repotting needs to be done, gently lift the plant out of its container and be careful not to disturb its roots.
Does Blood Lily Need Special Grooming Or Maintenance?
Blood lilies are easy to care for and maintain, making them an excellent choice as houseplants.
They don’t require regular attention and don’t need special grooming.
How To Propagate Fireball Lily?
Fireball lilies are easy to grow through two propagation methods:
- through division of offsets from the mother plant
- through seeds
Propagating fireball lily bulbs is simple to do.
Here are the steps to follow:
- When the offsets start to appear, leave them still attached to the parent bulb for two growing seasons before breaking them off.
- Then, use a sharp tool to cut the offsets, but be careful not the damage or disturb the roots.
- Plant the offsets in slightly moist soil or loamy/sandy soil.
Fireball lilies may also be propagated from seeds, commonly found in the plant’s fruit or red berries.
Follow these steps:
- Once the red berries fall off, harvest the seeds by gently rubbing or peeling the berry pulp off.
- Place the harvested seeds in a well-drained potting soil mix.
- Press the seeds lightly into the soil, making sure the top of the seeds is still showing.
- After germination, keep the soil moist and allow the bulbs to enter dormancy.
- Once the bulbs have sprouted, plant each bulb in an individual pot or container with a temperature above 60° degrees Fahrenheit.
- Ensure the plants get adequate light exposure for healthy growth.
African Blood Lily Pests And Disease Problems
African Blood Lilies are relatively problem-free but may occasionally encounter pests, such as:
- Mealybugs
- Spider mites
When you notice mealybugs hiding in the bases of the leaves, you may remove them by wiping a cotton swab with alcohol or drenching the soil with an insecticide.
Read the label directions and follow them, as they can be harmful to humans and animals.
Uses Of African Blood Lily
Because of their striking red blossoms, African Blood lilies are commonly grown as decorative houseplants inside houses or interiorscapes.
They also are great accents when planted in containers or warm borders, providing a pop of color in your garden.
In addition, African blood lilies make excellent cut-flower bouquets.
However, it’s also important to note that African blood lilies contain poisonous chemicals in the bulbs, such as lycorine and other alkaloids.
Ingestion of the bulbs may cause several symptoms, including:
- Salivation
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
African blood lilies are also relatively poisonous to humans, animals, and other livestock.