African Blood Lily Scadoxus multiflorus

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.