Plant of the Month: September 2025

Title image above is copyright © Kristi Ellinopoullos

First published 1st September 2025

Family: Amaryllidaceae (includes Amaryllis, Agapanthus, Clivia and Scadoxus)
Genus: Scadoxus (includes other ornamental blood lilies)

Botanical/Binomial Name: Scadoxus puniceus
Meaning of Name:
Scadoxus, unclear eymology as was never defined by its namer Constantine Samuel Rafinesque. He did explain the name as “umb. glor.’, possibly short for “glorious umbrella’. Thus this name may possibly derive from Ancient Greek σκῐᾰ́ς (skĭắs, ‘canopy, as of a sunshade’), and Koine Greek ἔνδοξος (éndoxos, ‘glorious’); and
puniceus, from Latin pūniceus (‘scarlet’)

Common Names: Paint Brush Lily, Paintbrush Lily, Royal Paint Brush Lily, Royal Paintbrush Lily, Torch Lily, Blood Lily

Botanical Characteristics: Herbaceous | Bulbous | Perennial | Deciduous | Frost tender
Propagation: Seed

Plant Description:
It take four or five years for this species to flower if grown from seed.

The flower spike appears in late autumn and is very long-lasting. The highly aesthetic wide and wavy leaves follow shortly after, and by early spring. The leaves last until late summer, when the plant dies back and the bulb enters dormancy for winter.

Growing Information:
The Paintbrush Lily requires little care and is happy both in a pot or in the ground. It is best grown in part-shade as sunlight will burn the leaves. Keep moist with occasional fertilising during the summer growing period, both to maintain atractiveness of the wide fleshy leaves, and so that the bulb can prepare for the dormant winter months.

Propagation is by seed.