three Biblical names in the lore of this flower. There are 4 pure white, very 
fragrant flowers in an umbel, with a cup in center as in daffodils and ismenes. 
The beautiful evergreen foliage makes this always a decorative plant. Flowers 
are used in corsages and bouquets and are more rare than orchids, often 
more expensive. 
Culture. It is recommended that bulbs be potted in coarse, fibrous loam 
with coarse sand, granular charcoal, a tablespoonful of bone meal, some peat 
and a little rotted, fine cow manure. Because they need abundance of water 
when blooming, the drainage material must be sufficient in quantity and 
perfect in performance. Feed with manure water except when resting. Shaded, 
but some sun is needed to develop flowers. After flowering, give only enough 
water to maintain foliage and full shade for several weeks. Then gradually 
increase water and light exposure. If you proceed correctly they flower again. 
From two to four crops of flowers per year may be had. They are strictly 
greenhouse or warm room plants and a night temperature of 65° is best. You 
can grow them with Cattleyas and Saintpaulias. We offer the largest and 
best bulbs obtainable for $1.50 ea. 
Haemanthus. This south African genus is very rare in cultivation. Very 
few have ever seen one. They are hardy only in an almost frost-free climate 
like So. Calif. or Florida. In their habitat, the following grow in cool, moist 
forest glades where there is little sun but plenty of light and where breezes 
keep the air in motion. These are the famous and rare Blood Lilies of South 
Africa. Four species are listed here. Others are now thru flowering and will 
be listed next spring. 
Culture. They can be grown in the outside garden only where tempera- 
tures do not go below about 24° altho we lost only a few at 20°, due perhaps 
to protection of the trees. They do well anywhere in pots. The soil should 
be a very sandy loam containing abundance of humus. Add some coarse sand 
to improve drainage. Katherinae and Coccineus should be just under soil 
surface and Albiflos should be one-half or more above surface. 
Haemanthus are not cheap bulbs, but they are good investments as they 
seed freely if pollinated and seed are easily grown to flowering sized bulbs. 
To pollinate the flowers, cup your hand and move palm gently over the 
flowers, daily. Thus the pollen is carried to the pistils and seed is produced. 
The seed may be planted on the surface of a soil of sandy loam and peat 
with a little sphagnum on top. Press them down into the soil a little and see 
that the radicle penetrates the soil. 
' Haemanthus Katherinae. The bright red flowers fill a large rounded 
umbel often 10” or more in diameter. I have counted nearly 125 in an umbel. 
The broad banana-like foliage droops gracefully into an umbrella form. Scarlet 
seeds follow the flowers. A plant in flower is an unforgettable sight of tropic 
beauty. The entire plant is of quite large proportions, the foliage and flower 
umbel reaching a height of 30” to 36”. Introduced from Natal in 1877, they are 
yet very rare. Give them a large pot, about 12”. Plant with top of bulb at 
soil surface. 
Katherinae is almost evergreen but usually tops either die or decline in 
January. About that time, the neck splits due to pressure of new growth. 
We can usually deliver from Jan. until late March but early ordering is 
advisable. We usually delay shipment by mail to north when there is danger 
of freezing. Express is always safe. Katherinae should never be entirely dried 
off but less water is needed when resting. Jan.- Feb. delivery. Price, good 
flowering size, $5.00. Order well in advance as we sell out early. 
H. albiflos. Two or more rather stiff erect evergreen leaves. The small 
white flowers, 100 or more, are in a dense umbel. A rare and unusual plant. 
It is evergreen and must never be dried off. But most growth is made in 
summer and more water is needed then. Flowers here in late fall. Leaves 
burn badly in sun. $3.00. 
H. coccineus. This is the true Blood Lily altho all Haemanthus are 
referred to as Blood Lilies even tho one has white and another flesh pink 
flowers. This very rare Amaryllid usually has only two semi-erect leaves. 
They grow all winter, after which they should be entirely dry until about 
Aug. Then watered only a little at first. The flower scape appears, preceding 
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