18 responses

1. HI Jacqueline

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Scadoxus puniceus is naturally found in a variety of regions so the specimens growing in the Western Cape have adapted for winter rainfall conditions. I also am of the opinion that the bulbs survive wet winters due to the free-draining soil.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

2. I have seen them growing so well and flourishing under trees at Spier wine farm in Western Cape. Wondering how they’re doing so well as we have winter rainfall so they certainly won’t be dry over winter

3. Hi Jeanette

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Some of the common reasons for which many plants do not flower in garden settings are:
   – Over-watering. As Scadoxus puniceus is dormant in the dry season, it’s best to avoid watering during winter to ensure that it does experience a dormant period. We’ve found that plants that do not experience this “rest” period tend to have poor flowering in the subsequent season.
   – Depleted soil. Consider feeding the soil with compost and mulch to enrich the soil.
   – Low light conditions. Scadoxus puniceus does not grow well in heavily shaded conditions so perhaps there is too much shade in that position.

   I also note that the flowering period for Scadoxus is from June through to August, so hopefully they are just a little late this year given the changing climatic conditions we’ve experiencing.

   All the best.
   Glenice

4. For the past five years my Scadoxus produced flowers in June. Nothing this year. Nothing! (I even considered the possibility that they were contaminated by Covid-19 )

5. Hi Deborah

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   You can safely plant it in the ground at the beginning of spring when the cold spells are past and unlikely to cause any damage.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

6. I’m in South Louisiana in a tropical climate. We rarely get very cold weather but this year we did get a hard freeze. My Lilly that I’ve have in a pot for about 3 years suddenly decided to make its first bloom just days before the freeze in mid February. I brought it inside & it’s doing great but I really want to put it in the ground & Im not sure when to do that.

7. Hi Mike

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Scadoxus puniceus usually starts dying back from March/April. The leaves turn yellow and disappear completely. There is no need to lift the bulbs, but avoid any soil disturbance to the area.

   As Scadoxus puniceus is quite hardy to a variety of conditions, your young plants may just be going dormant earlier. I don’t think a fungicide treatment is necessary, to you could stop that to allow them to harden off.

   Unfortunately gardening is all about patience and you’ll have to wait until next spring to see whether your plants recover.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

8. I absolutely love these! I planted a few bulbs my garden for the first time last year, and to my delight, all of them sprouted in the springtime! Although only one flowered, they all developed into healthy plants with beautiful foliage.

   I have a question, though: as a newbie to growing these beauties, when do they typically die back and what do they look like when they die back? I ask because I’ve noticed that some of the leaves are already turning yellow quite rapidly, a few are browning at the tips, and a couple of the plants are looking a little droopy. Is it normal for them to be dying back in January (I stay in Johannesburg), and are the signs I’ve mentioned typical of die back for this plant? A few online resources mention that it’s normal for the plants to die back in autumn, but it seems a bit early for this.

   Or, could this seemingly rapid decline be caused by something else (e.g. root rot or another fungal disease from heavy rains we’ve had this summer)? I have mine planted in dappled shade in soil that I’ve amended to aid drainage and increase organic matter. I also spray my plants with an organic fungicide once a week, and so far, they have been doing well. Is the decline at this time normal? I’m hoping it’s nothing more than their natural cycle taking place – I would be so sad to lose these beauties to disease after just one year and after they’ve been doing so well.

   I would be hugely grateful for any feedback or advice, hopefully just to tell me that I’m being a paranoid plant parent. 😉

   Keep up the great work on this site – I’ve been very inspired to plant many of the indigenous beauties that I’ve read about here in recent months. Thank you, and wishing you a wonderful week!

9. Hi Elizabeth

   Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

   Scadoxus puniceus flowers from the 5th year. They require a dry winter to allow the bulb to go dormant otherwise they may not to flower. They do best in a semi-shade position, particularly within 1m of a tree trunk. Avoid disturbing the soil around the bulb and remember to apply compost and mulch to the soil around your plant. Hopefully you’ll get some blossoms next season.

   Flourish!
   Glenice

10. Why does my plant not producing any flowers

11. Hi Liz

    Thanks for your advice.

    The red markings on the flower and leaf stalk of plants are usually an indicator of their toxic properties.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

12. Do not pick it. They cause red, sore, itchy eyes!!!

13. Hi Bruce

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook and for sharing your tips.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

14. Clean of the fleshy seed coating and plant about 1 cm deep.They will germinate and put a root BUT will only push their first leaf the following Spring.The seeds must be planted fresh off the plant as they will start germinating as soon as they drop off the plant.

15. Hi Jeanette

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    Your seeds may have been eaten. It is a better idea to plant them near the parent plants where the growing conditions are clearly suitable and the seedlings will get protection from the mature plants.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

16. Late year I have planted 40 of these seeds (reaped from the plants in my garden) in bags and didn’t get any plants from them. The bags didn’t even contain a trace of the bulb when I turned them out. Would it be a better idea to plant the seeds next to the plants in my garden where they they have been flourishing for the past three years?

17. Hi Wayne

    Thanks for visiting Plantbook.

    It’s wonderful to know that our South African plants are so adaptable to exotic locations and able to provide joy to ardent gardeners like yourself.

    Flourish!
    Glenice

18. I have this plant growing well in blue Mountains New South Wales Australia