Consulta Plantas

Care of the bulbous plant Haemanthus albiflos or White paint brush

The genus Haemanthus, family Amaryllidaceae, comprises 22 species of bulbous plants native to southern Africa. Some species are: Haemanthus albiflos, Haemanthus coccineus, Haemanthus sanguineus, Haemanthus amarylloides, Haemanthus pubescens.

Common names: White paint brush, Paintbrush. This species is native to South Africa.

They are bulbous plants with soft, broad, glossy dark green leaves and a margin covered with short white hairs. The flowers are white, very small and appear grouped in umbels above the leaves; they look like a painter's brush. They can bloom in summer and other seasons. They produce green fruits that turn red when ripe.

They are used as greenhouse and indoor plants; in frost-free regions they are used in groups and in understory.

Haemanthus albiflos prefers illuminated or dimmed exposure; it can grow in semi-shade receiving direct sun in the first hours of the day or at dusk. They do not tolerate frost.

The soil can be a mixture, in equal parts, of garden substrate, peat and coarse sand. Planting is done in early spring.

Water regularly in spring, summer and part of autumn, waiting for the substrate to dry. After flowering reduce watering; do not water when the leaves turn yellowish.

Fertilize every 15 days with mineral fertilizer for bulbous plants in spring and summer.

They do not need pruning. The bulbs should be removed from the substrate and stored in a dry and dark place until planting the following year. The bulbs can be left buried (without watering) and protected from the cold.

They are plants resistant to pests and diseases; they can sometimes be attacked by caterpillars.

They propagate by separating bulblets or by seeds sown in late winter or spring.

Images of the bulbous plant Haemanthus albiflos or White paint brush