Haemanthus 2010

[Hans J]

Hi Jim ,

Thank you for your confirmation !

I'm glad that you have now also a member of this forum - welcome !!!

Hans

[jshields]

This summer I had first blooms on a couple seedlings of Haemanthus lanceifolius.  The flowers were white, the umbels pretty thin and a bit scraggly.  These two probably bloomed a year before they should have.  Next year I should have more seedlings of lanceifolius blooming, and maybe I'll get a better idea of what they are supposed to look like.  Has anyone seen mature lanceifolius in bloom? I'd like to see a picture.

[Maggi Young]

I'm not sure I've seen a mature specimen, Jim.... there is this painting of the type.... http://ts-den.aluka.org/fsi/img/size2/alukaplant/nbg/phase_01/nbg0007/nbgart0003107.jpg

[jshields]

Maggie, thanks very much!  I can see that mine are really lanceifolius, with the pink bracts and nearly white flower.

[Hans J]

Maggi & Jim ,

this pic is from the Haemanthus bibel from D.Sneijman

Hans

[Maggi Young]

Thanks, Hans, it's this one, I think......Deirdre Snijman, "A Revision of the Genus Haemanthus L. (Amaryllidaceae)," National Botanic Gardens of South Africa, 1984. ISBN 0-620-07339-X  ...... can't find a source for it online right now.

[Hans J]

Yes Maggi -you are right !

Luckily I have a good copy of this book 

Hans

[jshields]

A question:  Has anyone outside South Africa tried growing any species of Haemanthus outdoors in the ground?  I assume this would work in Southern California, at least.  Anyone there or elsewhere who has tried?

I'm interested in getting hardy forms of Haemanthus.  Greg Pettit in the IBS list recommended H. montanus and maybe H. humilis. I'm much too cold here in Indiana (USA) to try this, but surely folks in less harsh climates have tried!  Have any plants survived?

[PeterT]

Haemanthus albiflos can survive being left outside in both the west of Scotland and London, I have seen it in pots where it has been soaking wet and frozen solid to perhaps -5 C and continued to grow despite some leaf damage. I hve no experiance of other species out of doors

[Auricular]

A question:  Has anyone outside South Africa tried growing any species of Haemanthus outdoors in the ground?  

Hi Jim,

i know that Lauw de Jager (bulbargence) have Haemanthus coccineus outside in his nursery/garden near the sea ins South-France.

On his homepage i found some words about it:

"Our climate is distinctly Mediterranean with dry, hot summers and mild, humid winters. Occasional frosts are possible from the end of December till mid February (around -5 to -8 C (23-20 F). The geographical situation is just cold enough to grow "continental" bulbs (needing a cold period) and without causing permanent damage to South African winter growers."

photo from Lauws homepage



Best wishes

Bernie

[jshields]

I've summarized the comments on hardiness of Haemanthus from this forum and from the I.B.S. list in my blog at:
http://www.shieldsgardens.com/Blogs/Garden/index.html#nov28.10

[PeterT]

Jim, when I divide or pot on seedlings I shall try some montanus, albiflos, humilus, coccineus and pauciflorus for good measure next year in my green house, it has open sides, no heat and is frozen solid with a layer of snow just now. Massonias survived in there last winter.

[BULBISSIME]

As I have a lot of H. albiflos, I'll try some of them outdoor in different places.
We have rainy and cold winter here ( -10°C ) sometimes...

[jshields]

Wonderful!  Thank you both, gentlemen.

[Paul T]

Jim,

Welcome to the forum!!

I grow Haemanthus coccineus outside in the ground here with no cover at all in full sun and frost etc, and have done now for maybe 10 years or so.  I have always protected my H. albiflos but I have a friend who left hers out one year and forgot about it.... it came through fine.  I've been meaning to plant some of mine out to try it as well.  We get regular -5'C during winter, and usually a few at least a couple of degrees below that.  I realise that in the greater scheme of things we're pretty mild.

I hope you enjoy the forum.