Guest Author - Nikki Phipps

This charming, sweetly scented bulb is long flowering and easy to cultivate. The Ifafa Fire Lily belongs to the genus Cyrtanthus, of which there are 40 known species. Several members of the genus are noted for their extremely rapid flowering response to natural bush fires, hence the common name, Fire lily for several species. The genus name Cyrtanthus refers to the curved tube of many of the species and is derived from the Greek ‘kyrtos’ meaning curved and ‘anthos’ meaning flower. All Cyrtanthus species can be cultivated in containers, but only a few are suited to general garden cultivation.

Both flower shape and color are variable. There may be star-shaped, bell-shaped, and trumpet-shaped flowers. These blooms range in color from pure white through shades of yellow, pink, and vibrant red. The foliage is also varied and interesting, from narrow, grass-like leaves to broad, spirally twisted leaves and includes both deciduous and evergreen species as well. Ifafa Fire lilies prefer a lightly shaded location, ideally receiving morning sun and afternoon shade, and like to be planted with the necks of their bulbs slightly exposed above soil level. Plant bulbs in the spring after all threat of frost has passed in well-drained soil that contains plenty of well-rotted organic matter. In fact, the richer the soil, the larger and more beautiful the plant. The bulbs require regular watering throughout the year. Container-grown Ifafa Fire lily can be placed on semi-shaded balconies or brought indoors where the sweet-scented blooms can be better appreciated.

Lift the bulbs in colder regions, allowing the foliage to die back first. In warmer areas, leave it in the ground over winter with a generous layer of mulch. Generally, the bulbs should be left undisturbed to form large clumps, at least five years, until they become too crowded or flowering performance diminishes. Once overcrowding occurs, propagation is easy. The offsets can be separated from the mother bulbs in early spring. The fleshy roots should not be allowed to dry out and the bulbs should be replanted immediately and watered well. However, when the bulbs are lifted and allowed to dry out only slightly and then replanted, they will produce a second crop of flowers. Seeds can also be sown in early spring, and seedlings will often flower during their third season of growth.

Ifafa Fire Lily, C. mackenii, which has pure white flowers, is the easiest species to cultivate in gardens, as is C. cooperi, which has yellow or cream-colored flowers. The flowers of C. angustifolius are reddish-orange and appear in late summer and early autumn. This species is not suitable for growing in colder regions. C. contractus, one of the most widely distributed flowers in South Africa, usually blooms in the spring and early summer. Its flowers are pink. C. falcatus blooms in early spring, the color of its flowers are between red and pink with a hint of yellow on the outside.