Plant DetailShow Menu

Scadoxus multiflorus

Previously known as:

  • Haemanthus multiflorus
Phonetic Spelling
ska-DOKS-us mul-tih-FLOR-us
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

The African Blood Lily is a bulbous perennial herb, native to Africa and Arabia, and a member of the Amaryllis family. Each bulb produces 6 to 7 bright green leaves and one flower head per season. The leaves are spirally arranged and the flower head is a spherical, soft-ball-sized terminal umbel with hundreds of tiny red florets with yellow tipped stamens. Flowers are followed in the fall by tiny orange-scarlet berries. The genus name comes from the Greek words skiadion meaning parasol or umbel and doxa meaning glory. The species name means many-flowered. The common name comes from the red stains on its flattened white bulbs.

This bulb is classified as Tender II and can be injured when left outdoors when temperatures drop below 50 degrees F (10C). It is more typically grown as a houseplant and is considered a cultivated ornamental. If you plant the bulbs outdoors, plant 1 inch deep in the spring after the last frost date. Note that if you are planting bulbs from existing outdoor plants, you must dig up those bulbs prior to the first frost in the fall, bring them indoors, pack them in peat and overwinter in a dry, cool area where temperatures range from 50 to 60 degrees F. Alternatively, you can keep the plant in containers outdoors and bring it indoors when temperatures drop. As indoor plants, keep them in a lighted area.

If grown directly in the ground, plant in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Provide consistent and even moisture with good drainage during the growing season. Reduce moisture in late summer. Plants reportedly perform best when root-bound and generally dislike root disturbance (another reason to grow in containers).

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for slugs and snails. Bulbs contain toxic alkaloids.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bulb#poisonous#not hardy#frost tender#fall interest#ornamentals#summer bulbs#container plant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bulb#poisonous#not hardy#frost tender#fall interest#ornamentals#summer bulbs#container plant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Scadoxus
    Species:
    multiflorus
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Africa and Arabian Peninsula
    Distribution:
    Central Mexico
    Bulb Storage:
    Indoors packed in peat over winter in a dry, cool space at 50 to 60 degrees F.
    Edibility:
    The bulb has low toxicity if eaten.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    Orange-red, globular berries in fall.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Pink
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    > 6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Four to six inch terminal umbel with hundreds of tiny, densely-packed, red florets with yellow tipped stamens.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Alternate, simple 12 to 15 inch leaves and a spotted stem and leaf stalk. Produces a rosette of dark green leaves after flowering.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Each flower head appears in late spring on a succulent stem to 1 to 2 feet tall.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Specimen
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Salivation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Lycorine and other alkaliods
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers