Boophone disticha
Water Needs
low; drought hardy; water wise
Bulb
Bushman Poison Bulb; Century Plant; Sore-eye Flower
40 – 60 cm
Size
Light Conditions
sun
Frost
light; moderate
Flowers
Pink; red; spring
Garden Situation
dry sun; sun; grassland; rockery; sandy soils; container; wildlife bees butterflies insects.
Habitat
fynbos; grassland; coastal eastern cape; coastal kzn; hot dry; bushveld; rocky places
Region
karoo; succulent karoo; thicket; subtropical east coast; Highveld; bushveld savanna; western cape
Rain Season
winter; summer
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Description
This is a slow-growing, beautiful bulb with large flower heads in shades of pink to red, carried on a single stalk that emerges from the bare, leafless bulb at the end of winter. Once the plant has flowered, the beautiful grey-green leaves appear again displayed during summer as erect leaves arranged in an eye-catching fan pattern amongst the soft wild grasses; leaves grow up to 60 cm long. After flowering, heads develop fleshy seeds and the entire head can break off the dried stem and roll across the grassland spreading the seed as it tumbles. Plants develp extensive root systems. This large bulb, up to 17 cm in diameter, is very poisonous AND MUST NOT BE INGESTED. Bulbs also need to be kept out of reach of cattle and sheep.