Also known as Rooikwas, the Scadoxus puniceus, or Blood Lily is a beautiful plant that is equally at home in your flower beds or a pot on the veranda. Found out and about on forest margins, bushveld and coastal bush its nectar has a low sugar value, with pollen collecting observed. Expect these lovelies to flower from September through early summer.
In its natural state it is found in the Southern Cape up through to KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland and the northern provinces, even extending up to tropical Africa.
It is “Poisonous, highly toxic, deaths have been reported following the ingestion of the bulb; leaves appear to have exactly the same toxic effects as the bulb. Has been used in African anticancer medicines; widely used in traditional medicine to treat coughs, chest complaints and gastro-intestinal problems, it has also traditionally been used as part of a medicine taken regularly during pregnancy to ensure a safe delivery.” Quattrocchi F.L.S. Umberto. 03 May 2012, S from: CRC World Dictionary of Medicinal and Poisonous Plants, Common Names, Scientific Names, Eponyms, Synonyms, and Etymology CRC Press https://www.routledgehandbooks.com/doi/10.1201/b16504-20
BLOOD LILY BEE PLANT VALUE N0-1 AND P0-2
Saving our bees is not just about making less toxic environments for them. We also need to focus on what we feed them. Like us they need a balanced diet. A healthy spread of pollen and nectar from a good diverse selection of flowers to choose from. From these flowers they forage for protein from pollen and they get their carbohydrates, sugars, from nectar. Bee-effective and plant Good Bee Food, for you and your honey bees
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Honey bee visits Bloody LIly: image ©Jacky Collier, Fairie Glen Nature Reserve, Pretoria. Ref Beeplant values: sanbi.org / Beeplants of South Africa, M.F. Johannsmeier