English: Snake
Lily, Paintbrush Lily
German: Blutblume
Zulu: isisphompho, umgola
Scadoxus puniceus growing in grassland in full sun in my
garden at Mount Moreland north of Durban, note the leaves are almost absent at
the time of flowering when growing in the full sun
Scadoxus puniceus is a bulbous plant belonging to
the Family: Amaryllidaceae and the Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae which is native
to eastern southern Africa. It has been recorded growing
in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland,
and South Africa.
Scadoxus puniceus are mostly found growing in the
shade of coastal forests, where they grow in leaf litter often in dry
localities. They are also found growing in scrub and in full sun in
grasslands. When growing in full sun the leaves and in particular the bracts
around the flowers are a much darker richer colour.
Growth habit
Produces lush shiny bright green leaves in the summer
months after flowering. In the later summer the leaves turn yellow and die and
the large bulb which is mostly above ground goes into winter dormancy flowering
out of the bare ground in the middle to late winter in Durban. The flowers are
pollinated by bees and olive sunbirds
The fruits are fleshy, shiny round red berries up to
approximately 1cm in diameter. They have single soft pearl-like seeds inside.
The ripe berries are eaten by birds in particular black eyed bulbul
or common bulbul (Pycnonotus barbatus tricolor)
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Black eyed bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus tricolor
Medicinal uses
Although the bulb is poisonous containing the
alkaloids haemanthamines, haemanthidine, 6-?-hydroxycrinamine, scapunine, and
scadoxucines it is used in traditional medicine to treat coughs,
gastro-intestinal problems, febrile colds, asthma, leprosy, sprains and
bruises, and as an antidote to poisons. It is also used as a diuretic. The
leaves are applied to sores and ulcers to aid healing and act as
an antiseptic. The plant is also traditionally consumed during pregnancy
as part of an herbal regime to ensure safe labour.
Growing Scadoxus puniceus
This is one of my firm favourites, it is the first plant
that I have recollection of growing as a child. The first specimens I dug out
in the bush across the road from my parents house and planted in our garden at
the age of about 5 years. Plants subdivided from those originally collected
back in the late 1950´s were still growing in the garden in 2006 when my mother
sold the house. Scadoxus puniceus are extremely easy to grow in our climate in
particular if they are grown in the ground in well drained sandy soil enriched
with a little organic matter in particular well rotted leaf mould. In the
ground it will not need watering at all. It also does well planted in
containers in well drained soil, do not over water, it is best to keep it a bit
on the dry side to develop a good healthy root system.
Amaryllis lily borer Brithys crini can cause severe
damage to the whole plant if not controlled.
Plants grown in the full sun however appear to be
unaffected by Amaryllis lily borer which seldom lay their eggs on them and when
they do from observation it would appear that plants grown in strong light
develop toxins in the leaves that kill the young larvae soon after boring into
the leaves.
A must for every indigenous garden in the areas where it
grows naturally, it also makes a good indoor pot plant provided it gets enough
light.
I photographed these Scadoxus puniceus growing well
outdoors in New Zealand grown by David Brundell in his magnificent garden at
Glenbrook Beach near Waiuku south of Auckland a must for anyone interested in
plants to see if they are in the area. Viewing by appointment only see
http://gardenza.co.nz/ for details.
Propagation
Scadoxus puniceus may be propagated vegetatively
from the bulbs, by splitting off offsets and from seed which must have the
flesh removed and planted as soon thereafter as possible. The seed must be place on the surface of the
sandy well drained growing medium and lightly pressed into the growing medium,
do not cover the seed. Water but not too much as the young seedling will rot
very easily if they are kept too wet. They are slow-growing and will take a few
years before flowering but vast numbers can be propagated easily in this manner.
Cut flowers
Scadoxus puniceus makes a good very long lasting cut
flower. If the water is changed regularly and if the flower is artificially
pollinated it will set bright shiny green seeds which will in time ripen to a
brilliant red in the vase. The flowers will also last a long time completely
without water in a vase.
Landscaping
A magnificent very much overlooked plant in South African
landscapes and interior plantscapes
Scadoxus puniceus is an excellent bedding plant with a
net and tidy growth habit to brighten those shady, dull, dry areas under trees
where nothing wants to grow with their brilliant lush green colour and
spectacular flowers popping up through the mulch and fallen leaves in the
middle of winter. No garden be it planted to exotics, a mixture of exotic or
purely indigenous plants should be without this spectacular plant.
Like the other South African Scadoxus species it makes an
excellent easy to care for pot plant.
Michael Hickman
Ecosystems Manager
Ecosystems Manager
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