Fire Lily
Cyrtanthus breviflorus
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Pl. 84B0 — Cyrtanthus breviflorus
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IOverview
Overview
Fire Lily, scientifically known as Cyrtanthus breviflorus, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family and is native to regions including Angola, Cape Provinces, Free State, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Malawi, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zaïre, and Zimbabwe. This plant thrives in moist, wet conditions with light (sandy) soil and requires full sun to grow well. It reaches a height of 0.3 meters and is valued for its edible leaves. Its distinctive feature lies in its ability to adapt to various climates within its native range, making it a versatile addition to botanical gardens or home landscapes where similar growing conditions are met.
Quick answers
What is Fire Lily?
Fire Lily, scientifically known as Cyrtanthus breviflorus, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family and is native to regions including Angola, Cape Provinces, Free State, Kenya, KwaZulu-Natal, Lesotho, Malawi, Northern Provinces, Rwanda, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zaïre, and Zimbabwe.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Fire Lily thrives in full sun and prefers moist to wet conditions with well-draining light soil. It is hardy in zones 8-11 and grows to about 0.3 meters tall. For propagation, gardeners can divide the bulbs or use seeds. Harvest edible leaves for culinary uses.
Light
Full sun
Water
Moist, Wet
Soil
Light (sandy)
Hardiness
8-11
Mature size
0.3 m tall
For first-time growers
How to grow Fire Lily for the first time
7steps
Start with Fire Lily to gain experience in growing bulbs, focusing on basic care and maintenance.
- 1
What you'll need
Fire Lily bulbs or seeds, a small pot, well-draining soil.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant Fire Lily in late winter or early spring for best results.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Use a light, sandy soil mix. Ensure the container has drainage holes.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Plant bulbs 2-3 times their depth. For seeds, sow them on the surface and keep moist.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during this period.
- 6
Ongoing care
Provide full sun exposure and regular watering to maintain moisture levels.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
After flowering, remove spent blooms. Prune dead leaves in late winter.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:Leaves
Edible uses: The Fire Lily's leaves are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are often prepared in stews or added to salads for a mild, slightly sweet flavor. Skip the detailed preparation methods as they were not provided.
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
14 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
14 native · 0 introducedDistribution across1 continent· 14 native
Africa9 regions
native (9)AngolaEswatiniKenyaLesothoMalawiRwandaTanzaniaZambiaZimbabwe
Broader regions
native:Cape Provinces, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Provinces, Zaïre
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXI
Explore further
Companion planting
Growing zone
XII
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Back to the cataloguePlant id · 84b0f660-a730-4d5d-8dc7-d91d33694b0b
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