Re: Haemanthus albiflos


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>I have always admired the photo of Haemanthus albiflos in Heidi
>Gildemeister's book and today I was lucky enough to buy one!  It's a
>tiny little thing in a 2" pot.  I looked it up on the internet, and
>all I see is information on pot culture.  Can I plant this jewel in
>the ground?  Anyone got any advice?


Hi Nan

I grow this one commercially - note I grow it, nobody seems to want to buy
the bloody things.

Heidi's book lists it as being from the Cape, which is not strictly true.
Eastern Cape actually & running right up into Natal. Therefore its more
summer rainfall & needs supplemental summer watering. Quite drought hardy
for this though. You see it growing in coarse litter in closed sand dune
forest formations. Its actually an evergreen species in winter rainfall
areas & a reliable flowerer, so don't worry about a dormant period. The
other thing I would take issue with the book on, is her assertion the bulb
must be planted with the neck just below soil level. I always plant with the
neck sitting proud & about 1/4 to 1/3 of the bulb uncovered. You could get
rotting problems otherwise. I would see no trouble for you planting open
ground. Just make sure you have free drainage & a shaded or filtered light.
My sales stock sits under my wire mesh Tillandsia tables with heavy watering
& no rotting problems. In my garden I have several big clumps in a mixed
bulb/shrub bed under a plum tree. I put it to the front in association with
Haemanthus coccineus & surrounded by a collection of different Clivias &
Scadoxus. Watered about once every 5 days in summer when the temperature is
in the 30s, but thats only to accomodate the surounding Impatiens etc &
would take it a lot dryer than that. Watch out for snails, quite troublefree
otherwise.

Regards

Glenn Breayley. Ragnarok & Valhalla Research.
POBox 26158, Hout Bay, 7872, Capetown, South Africa
Ph/Fax SA 021 7904253 E-mail valhalla@iafrica.com
Wholesale nurseryman & Tillandsia specialist wholesale & retail grower.
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