The Catherine-wheel or blood lily (Scadoxus multiflorus (Martyn) Rafinesque ssp. Katharinae (Baker) Friis & Nordal) is a spectacular shade-loving bloomer native to southern Africa. Depending upon temperature, the plants bloom for two to three weeks in late April or early May. My blood-lilies have bloomed every year since planted twelve years ago.

Each spherical inflorescence is about twenty-three centimeters (nine inches) in diameter and contains up to two hundred flowers. The yellow tips are the anthers.

In my experience, the leaves emerge after the flowers are finished. The leaf bases form a separate pseudostem arising from a bulb-like rhizome; the leaf blades are arranged in a spiral.

There are nine species in the genus Scadoxus. The 'bulbs' are toxic containing lycorine and other alkaloids. Livestock, particularly sheep and goats, are susceptible to these toxins. In Africa, these alkaloids have been used as arrow and fish poisons.

Alice Notten has written a great article about Scadoxus. To learn more about these beautiful plants, click on the link: http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantqrs/scadoxkath.htm