Eucrosia bicolor

Native to the seasonally dry lowlands of Ecuador and Peru, Eucrosia bicolor was the first species of the genus to be described and introduced into cultivation in Europe, as early as 1817. This bulbous plant in the Amaryllidaceae family produces glaucous leaves that usually appear together with the flowers. A stem up to 60 cm tall bears an umbel of pale red flowers with long, curved stamens, yellow or red depending on the variety. After the foliage withers, the bulb should be kept dry; watering resumes in spring as new growth and flowers appear, in a sunny position.