This is a close look at the beautiful Scadoxus pole-evansii.  This unusual member of the Amaryllis family is almost unknown in cultivation.  Even without blooms, it's an attractive plant, with foliage that somewhat resembles a banana plant.  Its radiating cluster of flowers rises above the leaves, putting on a spectacular show each summer.  This species is found only in small section of forest in Zimbabwe.  It is rarely seen for sale.

This Clivia relative makes a bulb-like rhizome and sends up fleshy leaves that grow about 2 to 3 feet tall.  The leaves are often dropped in spring, and the new leaves emerge in summer, around the same time as the flower stem.  The stem is 2 to 3 feet tall and contains about 50-60 salmon-scarlet flowers.  After flowering, it makes attractive, red berries, which are spread by monkeys in the wild.  Mature plants make offsets, which may be separated.  The plant may be cross-bred with my other Scadoxus species to create great new hybrids!

It comes from mountain forests, where temperatures are mild all year and nights are cool.  It likes similar conditions to intermediate- and cool-temperature orchids.  I don't know anyone growing it in a hot climate, but it's possible that temperatures over 85°F (29°C) may stress it if nights are warm.  It needs protection from frost.  It grows well in a pot in a loose, chunky mix that drains quickly, similar to Clivia.  A typical mix is 1 part small orchid bark, 1 part pumice or perlite, and 1 part potting mix.  Keep the roots evenly moist.  This forest plant does best in bright shade or dappled sunlight.  Protect it from strong sun exposure.  Over about 40% humidity is best.  In the right conditions, it is easy to grow.

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Germinating the seeds

Photos used with permission of Bart Wursten and Martin Grantham