Blood lily (Scadoxus multiflorus, Fl. Tellur. 4: 19 (1838))

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Author: (Martyn) Raf.

Bibliography: Fl. Tellur. 4: 19 (1838)

Year: 1838

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Scadoxus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Trop. & S. Africa to SW. Arabian Pen.

Description

The Blood Lily, scientifically known as Scadoxus multiflorus, is a marvel of the botanical world, captivating the hearts of those who encounter its vibrant blossoms. This striking plant is part of the Amaryllidaceae family, a group renowned for its ornamental and diverse species.

Originally chronicled in 1838, the Blood Lily has since been a subject of interest for botanists and horticulturists alike. Famously categorized by the botanist Martyn, and later by Rafinesque, this plant’s detailed description can be found in the referenced work, “Flora Telluriana.”

Scadoxus multiflorus is native to a wide geographical range, from the tropical and southern regions of Africa to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula. It thrives in these diverse climates, making its home in both lush tropical forests and more arid, challenging environments.

The Blood Lily is celebrated for its astonishingly beautiful and intricate flowers. Each bloom is a spherical inflorescence made up of numerous tubular flowers, radiating out like an explosion of fiery red and orange hues. This dazzling display often emerges from a single, robust stalk atop a lush base of broad, glossy green leaves, making it a popular choice for gardeners looking to add a dramatic flair to their landscapes.

In addition to its ornamental appeal, the Blood Lily has been noted in various traditional practices and holds cultural significance in some of its native regions. However, potential cultivators should note that, while stunning, this plant demands specific care to flourish outside its indigenous habitat.

Whether encountered in the wild or cultivated for its ornamental value, the Blood Lily stands as a testament to nature’s ability to create unparalleled beauty through intricate design and vivid coloration. Its presence in a garden not only adds aesthetic value but also serves as a reminder of the diverse and wonderful world of flora that stretches across the globe.

Common Names

Swe: boll-lilja
Por: haemanthus
En: Blood lily, Common fireball, Umdumbekhulu
Pt: Haemanthus
Sn: Mumhandwe
Sv: Boll-lilja
: Katherine blood-lily

Synonyms

• Haemanthus multiflorus (Martyn)
• Nerissa multiflorus ((Martyn) Salisb.)

Distribution

• Angola (native)
• Benin (native)
• Botswana (native)
• Burkina (native)
• Burundi (native)
• Cameroon (native)
• Cape Provinces (native)
• Central African Repu (native)
• Chad (native)
• Congo (native)
• Djibouti (native)
• Equatorial Guinea (native)
• Eritrea (native)
• Ethiopia (native)
• Gabon (native)
• Gambia (native)
• Ghana (native)
• Guinea (native)
• Guinea-Bissau (native)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (native)
• Ivory Coast (native)
• Kenya (native)
• KwaZulu-Natal (native)
• Liberia (native)
• Malawi (native)
• Mali (native)
• Mauritania (native)
• Mozambique (native)
• Namibia (native)
• Nigeria (native)
• Northern Provinces (native)
• Rwanda (native)
• Saudi Arabia (native)
• Senegal (native)
• Seychelles (native)
• Sierra Leone (native)
• Somalia (native)
• Sudan (native)
• Swaziland (native)
• Tanzania (native)
• Togo (native)
• Uganda (native)
• Yemen (native)
• Zambia (native)
• Zaïre (native)
• Zimbabwe (native)
• Chagos Archipelago (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Gulf (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Aug 17, 2020 by Sophie Macfarlane (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 16, 2021 by Ana mercedes Gomez cala (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2021 by Jeanne-marie Henning (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 28, 2020 by Foster Rodolfo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 18, 2019 by prathweesh shetty (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 19, 2021 by darkcurse David (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 15, 2021 by Habuba Attawa (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 2, 2021 by Filz Josef (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 15, 2021 by Habuba Attawa (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 30, 2022 by Madalena Araujo (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Aug 17, 2020 by Sophie Macfarlane (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 13, 2022 by manuseitz (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 7, 2020 by Ocampo Andrés (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2020 by Fabi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2020 by doerle (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Dec 7, 2021 by Fabrício H (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2022 by G Kirimi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2001 by Tela Botanica − Melis ANTONINO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 10, 2018 by Tela Botanica − La Spada Arturo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 26, 2022 by Joyce Djaelani Gordon (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Oct 27, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2022 by Gamersky FF (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 3, 2019 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain Piry (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 5, 2021 by Ngọc Thanh Trần (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2022 by chantal JOUVENCEL (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Oct 14, 2020 by Aman Vyas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 13, 2022 by William Korosian (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 13, 2021 by camilo tiago (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2020 by FERREIRA DIEGO CÉSAR (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 8, 2019 by Krishna Panyam (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2860677)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:66765-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Raf.)

Specifications

Growth