Hippeastrum blossfeldiae
This blossfeldiae is from Len Doran

Kevin Preuss (Mar 17, 2004)

Nolan Sahuc

Willem Reuter

Habitat: Sand dunes near the ocean beach at Praia do Sape, District of Maranduba in municipio Ubatuba, Brasil , 50 km east of Sao Paulo on the railway to Rio de Janeiro, at about 830 m elevation. The species is also found growing at about 30 m above sea level along the ocean beach at Coraguatatuba to the south of Ubatuba.

Cultivation: A common species in cultivation. Bulbs enjoy deep sandy soil in full sun. Bulbs must be planted entirely beneath soil surface. The species needs 1 - 2 months of rest when watering should be withheld completely. It is a tender species so bulbs must be cultivated indoors or inside greenhouse with heating facility during winter. Seedlings can produce first flowering within 4 years from seed if they are cultivated in a tropical climate. Generally pest free, and bulbs do particularly well in places of good ventilation.

Varieties/Forms: According to Len Doran, there is a flaming orange form which always produces 6 flowers to a spike.

Availability: Seed is sometimes available through the IBS seed exchange.

Further reading: PLANT LIFE 1971, p.44. PLANT LIFE 1972, p.18 (illustrated). PLANT LIFE 1975, p.47. HERBERTIA 1988 Vol.2, p.27. HERBERTIA 1991 Vol.2, p.142. BULBS by John Bryan, p.207. For information of chromosome counts: PLANT LIFE 1977, p.62 and HERBERTIA 1991 Vol.1, p.27.

--Dennis Tsang

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