Haemanthus albiflos (paintbrush, "Mayuhakeomoto")

Japanese name: マユハケオモト
Scientific name: Haemanthus albiflos

[Overview]
An evergreen perennial 20–30 cm tall with a clump width of about 15 cm.
Underground there is an ovoid bulb 7–8 cm in diameter.
Leaves grow from the base in two rows, one pair per year, for a total of 2–6 leaves.
The leaves are oblong, 15–20 cm long, thick and entire.
At the tip of a thick flower stalk 10–20 cm tall, an umbel 3–7 cm in diameter bears many flowers.
The flowers have 6 petals, but the white stamens, longer than the petals, are conspicuous, giving the whole a brush-like appearance.
The anthers of the stamens are yellow.
The inflorescence bears 4–8 white spathes with green stripes.
The fruit is a spherical berry, and the seeds are large and fleshy.

[History]
It arrived in Japan in the first years of the Meiji era.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed or by dividing bulbs.
Sow seeds immediately after harvest, but it takes several years to become a flowering plant.
Divide bulbs around the end of dormancy, and plant shallowly in a pot slightly larger than the bulb, with the neck of the bulb at about ground level.
It is relatively cold-hardy and can overwinter outdoors if it does not freeze.
It prefers sun to partial shade and fertile soil that is airy, well drained and moisture-retentive.
Place it in a sunny spot during the growing period and in partial shade during dormancy.
During the growing period, water thoroughly after the soil surface has dried.
During dormancy the bulbs rot if there is moisture, so do not water and cut off water completely.
Apply slow-release fertilizer as a base fertilizer, and give liquid fertilizer once a month during the growing period.
Pests and diseases include leaf blight, slugs and spider mites.

View this page in Japanese (日本語)