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| Category: Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc. |
| Family: Amaryllidaceae (Onions) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: White |
| Bloomtime: Fall/Winter |
| Height: 1 foot |
| Width: 1-2 feet |
| Exposure: Light Shade/Part Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 25-30° F |
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Haemanthus albiflos (Dappled snowbrush) - Evergreen to semi-evergreen bulbous plant with broad, rough-edged 12 to 18" long leaves that lie over flat to the ground - it produces two leaves held opposite each other every year and can have multiple years of leaves present. The flowers, carried in a tight umbel on top of 1 foot long stalks (scapes) are composed of a brush of many small white flowers with extended white stamens holding yellow anthers. Surrounding the flowers white bracts striped with green veins. Flowering occurs in late fall to early winter and attractive red fruit can form if flowers are pollinated. Plant in well-drained soil in a bright shady location and water regularly to occasionally. Frost hardy into the mid 20°s F and with some protection even lower. Plants growing in the shade of oak trees were undamaged during our January 2007 freeze with short duration temperatures of 25° F on three successive nights. A very attractive plant planted in groups under trees or in containers. Haemanthus albiflos grows mainly along the coast of South Africa from the more mediterranean climate southern Cape through a large area of the summer rainfall Eastern Cape and into northern areas of KwaZulu-Natal. The name for genus is from the Greek words 'haima' meaning "blood" and 'anthos' meaning "flower" in reference to the red flowers that many species of the genus have. The specific epithet is a combination of the Latin words 'album' meaning white with 'flos' meaning flowers in reference to the white flowers of this particular species since most in the genus are red as the name for the genera implies. As with many others in the Amaryllis family, this plant is considered to be poisonous due to having Lycorine and other related alkaloids though poisonings involving this plant are considered rare.
The information about Haemanthus albiflos 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. |
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