Rhodophiala bifida — Oxblood lily

In September suddenly appear the striking bloodred trumpets marked with yellow anthers. They prefer relatively cool temperatures during the summer, and should be planted at least 20cm deep. Do not disturb for several years. Leaves appear in October and remain present until the end of June. The autumn/winter /spring growing Rhodophiala bifida from Uruguay and Argentina. It is dormant in summer but receives year round rains. Therefore intolerant of thorough summer drought that would make it lose the roots. It Is quite hardy (-12 C frosts are experienced by the southernmost populations). Summers always long and hot in the wild. Propagation from seed as only individuals bulbs are found in the wild. There is an interesting range of color forms in this easy species. As a rule a population has flowers of a single color with few if any variant. It flowers in late summer before heavy foliage production. Alkaline soils in the wild although it the northernmost corner of its distribution it grows in acid red clays. Full The dark “oxblood lily” form of Rhodophiala bifida grown in Texas. It flowers in autumn before leaves. It is well known by its strong offsetting habit and no seed production. The color form of this variant is found in a population of the Province of Entre Rios, Argentina
Sept 2019, we are approaching the end of the stock size 7-9cm circ