Haemanthus albiflos is an evergreen plant. The bulb is up to two inches (50 mm) in diameter and in cultivation is usually half submerged in the growing medium. The two to four leaves are 2 to 3 inches (50 - 75 mm) wide. They are smooth but often have fine hairs on the edges. The cluster of white flowers is enclosed in pale green bracts, and the peduncle grows to be two to four inches long. The flowers usually appear in late summer or autumn. The fruits are red, the berry usually enclosing only one seed.

This species is found in South Africa, occurring along the eastern coast.

Haemanthus albiflos in bud

There are only three species of evergreen Haemanthus in South Africa: albiflos, deformis, and pauculifolius. All occur in the eastern portion of the country. Albiflos has two to four leaves at a time; if more than two, then the extras are left over from the previous growing season. Deformis has two smooth, wide leaves that press to the substrate; the leaves tend to be as broad as they are long. Pauculifolius has one or two leaves, 1 to 2 inches wide, very hairy on both surfaces; if there are two leaves, the second is from the previous growing season. The bulb of pauculifolius usually sits almost completely above the ground, in contrast to the bulbs of albiflos and deformis.

Last updated 18 August 2011
© Copyright 2011 by James E. Shields. All rights reserved.