Posted by admin | Posted in Flowers and plants database | Posted on 25-02-2010
Tags: bulbous plants, Forest lily flowering, Forest lily growing, late winter to spring flowering, Veltheimia Bracteata
Veltheimia Bracteata is a strange beautiful flowering plant native of Hyacinthaceae family. Commonly known as Forest Lily, it’s bulbous perennial with basal rosettes of thick and waxy, strap-like, glossy, dark green leaves, from which upright flowering stems grow in spring, to be topped by a dense cluster of tubular, pink-purple flowers with yellow spots. But the colour of Forest Lily is variable and could be pale pink Veltheimia, dusty pink Veltheimia, orange pink Sand Onion. The Forest Lily blooms during late winter to spring and each flower-head last about o month. Veltheimia Bracteata is an unusual house or conservatory plant where winter protection is needed.
How to grow Veltheimia Bracteata
You have to plant bulbs in autumn with the neck just above soil level, in loam-based potting compost with added sharp sand. You could site Forest Lily in full sun, but it loves semi-shade, reduce watering as the leaves fade. Keep the soil just moist during dormancy. Minimum temperature tolerated by Veltheimia Bracteata is 2-5 C degrees (35-41 F degrees). During the period of vegetative rest, it’s possible to take the bulbs or tubers of Vetheimia Bracteata out of the ground. Clean well the bulbs and place them in a cool, dry and dark place.
