
Blood Lily (Scadoxus multiflorus) - 3 bulbs
- Scientific:
- Scadoxus multiflorus
- Bulbs/Pack:
- 3 bulbs
- Planting Time:
- When Available
- Bloom Period:
- May/June
- Bloom Size:
- Globe shape 4-6 inches
- Zones:
- 9-11
- Planting Depth:
- Top of bulb above soil
- Fragrance:
- None
- Light:
- Partial to Full Sun
- Height:
- 1-2 feet
Description
Hey, Houston! Hey, Florida! Hey, Gulf Coast cities! This is the bulb for you. If you want a bulb that you can stick in the ground that doesn't require a lot of attention and produce some amazingly unique blooms at the beginning of summer, the "Blood Lily" is the answer. Now is a great time to go ahead and plant the Scadoxus multiflorus better known as the "Blood Lily" or "Blood Flower." This bulb grows well in zones 9-11, but that isn't going to keep those of us in zone 8 from planting some. We are just going to put them in pots to be able to protect them in the winter. Baseball to softball-size globes of fiery red appear on stems bringing bright color to your garden. They have beautiful dark green leaves for months, and in the fall, the stems produce bright berries which add a new splash of color to your garden.
The "Blood Lily" is originally from Africa and Arabia and is part of the Amaryllis family. If planted in the ground, it works best in zones 9-11.
Blooms: Around late May or early June, a softball-sized flower will appear from each bulb for about 1-2 weeks. The fiery red blooms sit atop a naked stem with no foliage. The leaves will begin to appear and provide some lovely deep greeneryduring the hot summer months to take the plant into the fall. In the fall, the plant will produce red berries which may last for a couple of months.
Berries: Let's talk berries for a moment! The "Blood lily" will multiply for you two ways. First, the bulbs themselves will multiply. Then, you have these great little seed pods in the fall. Leave the pods alone until they start to shrivel. Then you can harvest them. If you want to plant in the ground, you can. Otherwise, simply place them in pots on top of damp potting soil. Press them lightly into the soil but do not cover them up. They will germinate and you have more plants!
Temperature: This bulb needs the ground temperatures to be at least 60 degrees or higher. If you live north of zone 9 consider either planting in a pot and bringing it in during the winter or digging the bulbs and storing them.
Pots: These bulbs work great when planted in pots. The 'Blood Lily" is certainly the THRILLER of a potted plant grouping because of the bloom's uniqueness, or you can simply put a couple in a pot and enjoy the show of red in the spring and fall. They produce better blooms when they are not disturbed very often. Consider getting a pot (or several) so that the bulbs can live happily without disturbance for several years. Consider placing the pots under or near trees during the summer(read below about light). Consider mixing potting soil with some sand to provide a little extra drainage which will benefit the bulb. During the winter, move the pot indoors and have it as a houseplant during the winter. Since it likes the humidity, mist the plants and keep it away from cold windows and drafts.
Plant: Plant the bulbs with just the top of the bulb visible at ground level. If you are planting this in the ground in the heat of the summer, consider adding a little mulch to protect it and water consistently to help it get established. The "Blood Lily" will get to about 2 feet tall and 12-16 inches wide so plant accordingly.
Water: If it is growing season and you plant them in the ground, they will perform best if they receive some good water at least once a week. Be sure not to overwater in the ground or in a pot. If you plant them in a pot, then make sure to water sparingly at first so as not to rot the bulb. Once the bulbs start to grow, though, increase the water so that they are well fed. Once the plant is ready to go dormant, water only enough to keep the bulbs from completely drying out (about 1/2 inch a week).
Soil: This plant does best if planted in well-drained soil.
Light: Though these bulbs like the heat and humidity of the deep south, they actually do better in bright indirect light. They will perform well with summer morning sun but try to keep them out of direct afternoon sun.
Animals: Butterflies, bees, and birds all enjoy these blooms.
Shipping & Returns
Returns Policy
You may return most new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. We'll also pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.).
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, simply login to your account, view the order using the "Complete Orders" link under the My Account menu and click the Return Item(s) button. We'll notify you via e-mail of your refund once we've received and processed the returned item.
Shipping
We ship within the continental United States.
When you place an order, we will estimate shipping and delivery dates for you based on the availability of your items and the shipping options you choose. Depending on the shipping provider you choose, shipping date estimates may appear on the shipping quotes page.
Please also note that the shipping rates for many items we sell are weight-based. The weight of any such item can be found on its detail page. To reflect the policies of the shipping companies we use, all weights will be rounded up to the next full pound.
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