Scientific Name
Haemanthus deformis Hook.f.
Common Name(s)
Dwarf Haemanthus, White-flowered Snake Lily, Waterlily Haemanthus
Synonym(s)
Haemanthus baurii, Haemanthus mackenii
Scientific Classification
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Haemanthus
Origin
Haemanthus deformis is native to South Africa.
Description
Haemanthus deformis is an evergreen bulbous plant with thick, fleshy roots and 2 or 4 broad, gray or greenish-gray leaves, spreading or lying flat on the ground. The leaves are fleshy and have hairy margins.
When in flower, the mature plant can grow up to 4.8 inches (12 cm) in height and produce a single thick, bent, short, hairy flower stem in the center between the leaf bases. The flower head consists of a dense cluster of white, erect flowers with white filaments, bright yellow anthers, and long white protruding styles. The flowers are enclosed by broad, strong white bracts distinctly recurved in the upper part. The fruits are fleshy, dark orange berries containing a few hard, oblong seeds.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 45 °F (+7.2 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Haemanthus deformis is ideal for a shady rock garden or for difficult parts of the garden receiving poor light, where it can multiply for many years.
Once established, it requires a dappled shade position and likes to remain undisturbed for many years. The soil must be well aerated. A suggested medium is equal parts of well-rotted compost, coarse river sand, and loam. Plant the greenish bulbs with the upper half exposed and the thick fleshy roots spread horizontally over the soil.
It also makes an excellent subject for plastic or terracotta containers, and these need not be deep as the roots naturally spread out horizontally. Pots of Haemanthus deformis can be grown very successfully on a shady veranda. This plant is also suitable as an indoor plant, where it should be placed in a position that receives dappled light but not direct sunlight. This plant likes to become pot-bound, and mature bulbs flower reliably yearly and only need to be divided every 7 or 8 years when flowering performance diminishes. However, Haemanthus deformis is not hardy and has to be grown under the protection of a cool greenhouse in countries with very cold winter conditions.
Haemanthus deformis can be propagated by seed and separating offsets from thick clumps. Seeds are sown once the ripe berries have become soft and turned orange or red from the end of winter to early summer. Offset bulbs are best separated from thick clumps in early spring as temperatures rise, ensuring each offset has a good supply of roots.
Haemanthus deformis is not often attacked by pests or diseases, but the leaves are sometimes invaded by the Dreaded Lily Borer, also known as the Amaryllis Caterpillar.
Links
- Back to genus Haemanthus
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
Photo Gallery
