I am trying to find out what this plant is called? It's leaves are replaced with a reddish flower with a long stem once a year. The flowers then die off and are replaced with the large leaves again.
Ah this is one I know. It took me 25 years + to find this one out as it only bloomed a couple of years ago . It comes from Sth Africa http://fernkloof.com/species2.mv?Haemanthus coccineus. Don't you love it's flowers. I always thought it should grow in shade because that is where I found the bulbs in an old derelic garden. Hey presto pot got moved during a renovation job and it got lots of sun. I still only have 3 bulbs but the most enormous leaves this year. Liz
Togata the flower petals or what ever they are are very thick and leathery. The pollen in the centre is very baeutiful and strong looking. Almost scultpure like. It reminds me of a huge orange buttercup. Liz
Flowers are so POWERFUL in appearance, both in form and in their gorgeous color. WOW! Wonder what pollinates it? And I am happy to hear of your plant's age. Indeed: good things come to those who wait!
Oh they are much older than the 25 or so years I have had them. The garden they came from had a very old house by our terms so I am betting they have beeen around for 50+ years. The bulbs are the size of a fist. Would be interested to know the first poster's [Ceedee} description of theirs and how they multiply them. Liz
I bought my plant from a local market about 6 months ago, mine hasn't flowered yet ... the pic i attached belongs to my Mum. I have mine in the sun and it grows so quickly, and hopefully i will get flowers this time round. My Mum splits the bulbs after the flowers have died off and has given to her friends, I presume it would be just like splitting any other bulb .... Thanks for letting me know the name of it, i had been trying to find out since i bought it! :-)
