|
|
[2nd Image]
|
 |
|
|
| Category: Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc. |
| Family: Amaryllidaceae (Onions) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Flower Color: Pink |
| Bloomtime: Winter/Spring |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Synonyms: [Boophane disticha] |
| Height: 1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
|
|
|
|
Boophone disticha 'CF' (Clustering Oxbane Lily) – An interesting form of the large deciduous Oxbane bulb that comes from a wide range in South Africa. A mature bulb of the species can grow to about 7 inches in diameter with a thick covering of dry scales above the ground and is usually solitary but this form continually suckers and individual bulbs, so far' have been much smaller. Like the large form it has blunt gray leaves that can reach to 20 inches tall and have wavy undulating edges. We have not seen this form flower but our regular form produces an inflorescence on older plants in late winter or spring and often when the plant is leafless that is composed of an umbel of many pink to red funnel-shaped flowers. Plant in full sun in a well-drained soil and water little to regularly while in leaf. It is best to protect this plant from frost though we did not experience damage on our plants in the January 2007 cold snap where temperatures dipped to 26 F. We first purchased the seed for this crop in the late 1990's from Silverhill Nursery. Some have suggest that this is Boophone ernestii-ruschii but the leaves are no wider than Boophone disticha, as they should be for this species. This species is poisonous and care should be given not to let animals browse the plant. Though this plant is most often listed as Boophane, it is noted in “The Color Encyclopedia of Cape Bulbs” by John Manning, Peter Goldblatt and Dee Snjman the Timber Press 2002) that the spelling of this plant's name has caused much confusion and that Boophone has been formally proposed as the correct form. The name comes from the Greek 'bous' meaning "ox", and 'phone' meaning "death" and is in reference to the poisonous properties of this bulb. The specific epithet 'disticha' is for the two-ranked leaves displayed in a fan-like formation. Other common names for this plant are Bushman poison bulb, Candelabra flower, Cape poison bulb, Century plant, Fan leaved boophone, Kaffir onion, Poison bulb, Red posy, Sore eye flower, Veldt fan, Windball, Fireball, Oxkiller fan, Tumbleweed. The names Windball and Tumbleweed are because the dried inflorescence can tumble about while dispersing seed and the sore-eye flower is in reference to the thought that a person exposed within a confined area to the open flowers may get sore eyes or a headache.
The information about Boophone disticha 'CF' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
| |
|
|
|
