Hippeastrum puniceum
Barbados lily
Also known as Hippeastrum equestre
- Height × spread
- 1.5m × 0.5m
- Position
- Part shade
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Flowers
- Winter
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is dormant for much of the year, but exceptional when in flower. The plant has few, rather rigidly arching and strappy leaves up to 35cm (14in) in length. The stout flowering spike holds a flower up to 12cm (4.5in) in diameter: a sumptuous lily with broad overlapping red, orange or pink petals, with a rugged looking slightly furrowed surface. There may be white streaking on the underside of the petals. The flower is greenish yellow in the throat. The petal bases have vertical oblong slashes, reaching into the greenish yellow heart of the flower. Long creamy stamens reach forth, chubby anthers to the fore. The flower nods slightly, and is held slightly pendulously. it is too tender to over-winter outside in Britain and Ireland where it is normally seen as a pot plant. There are innumerable hybrids. Give it neutral or slightly alkaline soil that is well drained, and a sunny spot. It stands around 1.5m (5 ft) high with a 50cm (20in) spread.
- Flower colour
- Orange, Pink, Red
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Column
- Height
- 1.5m
- Spread
- 0.5m
- Season of interest
- Winter
- Flowers in
- Winter
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Winter garden, Indoors, Gravel garden, Exotic garden, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Gravelly soil, Loam (normal), Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Frost free greenhouse 1C & above (RHS H2)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- bright spot, no direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 3C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- Yes, potentially harmful; Humans: Harmful if eaten
AutumnNow
Autumn · Planting
Remove offsets to create new plants
Offsets are small plants or shoots that develop around the parent plant. They should have developed a root system of their own before they are detached. They can be planted directly, or grown in pots if so small they could be 'lost' in the garden.
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water to keep the soil moist
Water moderately from the period when growth starts (around April) until the early autumn (September).
Spring-Winter · Indoors
Don't water while dormant
Keep the compost or the plant tuber, rhizome or bulb completely dry when the plant is dormant.
The plant requires a rest period in order to thrive. Watering at this time may prevent dormancy, or may induce rot or disease.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Feed with houseplant food monthly
Give the plant a balanced houseplant feed monthly while in growth.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water during dry periods
For plants in the ground, when there has been little or no rain for a period of 7-10 days and the soil is dry, give it a deep watering and repeat weekly until there is a downpour of rain. Check plants in pots more frequently, especially in hot weather.
Spring-Autumn · Planting
Remove dead leaves
When leaves die they can carefully be detached or cut off at their base to improve the overall appearance of the plant. Be careful not to damage the main stems during this process.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based houseplant compost for repotting
Buy container or house plant compost that is loam based if possible (i.e. is based on John Innes compost number 2 or 3. This contains more fertiliser and is better suited to established plants.
John Innes no. 1 has the lowest level of fertiliser and is used for seedlings and young plants, so is generally used where plants will be 'potted on' after a number of weeks.
Indoor temperature · Planting
3C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 3 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a bright spot, no direct sun
Give this a bright position away from the direct sun, especially direct sun at the height of the day. (Direct sunshine is too hot and can burn the leaves.) Move the plant to a brighter position in the room during winter and early spring.